Jefferson County to Honor Fallen Officers Wednesday

Ten law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty will be remembered at a prayer breakfast and ceremony Wednesday, which is designated at Peace Officers Memorial Day. The ceremonies will take place at the Law Enforcement Memorial in Hillsboro.

Among those remembered will be Deputy Terry O'Connell, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop on Apr. 5, 1978. Other officers on the memorial include Sheriff Leo E. Church who was killed in a fatal car crash on May 2, 1960. Church's wife, Helen, was appointed sheriff to fill her husband's unexpired term, Hefferson County Chief Deputy James Marsden, who was killed by a gas drive-off suspect on July 11, 1957, Jefferson County Deputy William Myers, who was seriously injured by  an armed man during a hostage situation and who succumbed to his injuries on July 31, 1980, Jefferson County Deputy James Garrison, who was struck broadside by another motorist and died from his injuries on July 3, 1980, Marshall Willis Dearing of the DeSoto Police Department, who was killed on Dec. 16 1897, Rock Township Deputy Constable Conrad Straher, killed June 3, 1930, Rock Township Deputy Constable Wallace Caudle, who died Oct. 20, 1935, Arnold Patrolman John H. LeCompte, who was killed Nov. 21, 1976, Arnold Patrolman Stephen Arthur Jarvis, who was killed June 14, 1977, and St. Louis Police Officer Steven Strehle, who was killed Nov. 19, 1993.

These officers and others will be remembered at the Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony Wednesday