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New memorial being built for fallen officers
fallen officer
Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones, San Joaquin County Sheriff Pat Withrow, and Delta College Police Chief Robert Diperio pose with golden shovels at the groundbreaking,

Those who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the San Joaquin County communities they served will be forever memorialized in Downtown Stockton.

Last week the San Joaquin County Fallen Peace Officer Foundation held the groundbreaking for the new Fallen Peace Officer Memorial – a tribute to those who perished in the line of duty that will replace an aging tribute that is missing the names of the fallen – in a special ceremony that drew volunteers from the non-profit foundation and various law enforcement agencies throughout the county.

While the memorial will be located outside of the Stockton Police Department’s main complex in Downtown Stockton, it will include the names of sworn officers from throughout the county who were killed or perished while performing their duties as members of the wider law enforcement community.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page that honors fallen law enforcement personnel, Manteca hasn’t lost an officer while on duty since Constable James A. Rawleigh was struck by a vehicle in September of 1936. Ripon Sergeant Paul Stevens died of a heart attack in January of 1972, and more recently officer Robert Winget died in a motorcycle accident in August of 2007. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, which includes Lathrop Police Services, has lost seven deputies – the most recent being Dighton Little by gunfire in 1989 – and K9 Niko in July of 2009. Niko’s handler, Ryan Biedermann, is currently serving as the Chief of Police for the City of Lathrop.

The non-profit is currently selling “guardian bricks” to any current or retired law enforcement officers that will encircle the memorial and ensure the fallen are being “guarded” by their law enforcement brethren. Bricks outside of that are also available for sale to non-law enforcement residents. The proceeds from the sale of the bricks will help offset the cost of construction of the memorial and the ongoing maintenance needed to keep it from falling into disrepair.

The 4x8 bricks are $250, and those who purchase them will receive a duplicate copy of the brick that will be laid around the memorial.

For more information about brick pricing, visit https://www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/sjcfpof.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.