On Tuesday, April 26th, beginning at 2:00 P.M., the Fort Lauderdale Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 31 will be honoring twelve Fort Lauderdale Police Officers who were killed in the line of duty. These Officers made the ultimate sacrifice while carrying out their duties to serve and protect the City of Fort Lauderdale.
The event will take place at the Fort Lauderdale Police Memorial in Esplanade Park. Esplanade Park is located in front of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts at 500 Southwest 2nd Street in the City of Fort Lauderdale.
The memorial is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. The service will honor the selfless dedication to duty and the ultimate sacrifice made by these fallen Officers.
The service will run approximately 30 minutes.
Following is a list of the Officers being honored:
o R. DWIGHT JOHNSTON, died in the line of duty as a result of a motorcycle accident, April 5, 1947.
o DONALD E. KIRBY JR., died as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, October 9, 1968.
o D. WALTER ILYANKOFF, was murdered by four culprits during an armed robbery of a local restaurant, July 21, 1974.
o GREGORY J. CONNERS, died in the line of duty as a result of a motorcycle accident, November 12, 1977.
o JOHN C. ALEXANDER, killed when a police airplane crashed in the line of duty, August 3, 1981.
o KENNETH PETERSEN, killed when a police airplane crashed in the line of duty, August 3, 1981.
o CHARLES E. BRUCE, died as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, August 24, 1983.
o FRANK A. MASTRANGELO, killed when a police airplane crashed in the line of duty, May 25, 1989.
o NORMAN EDDY, killed when a police airplane crashed in the line of duty, May 25, 1989.
o DAVID L. BROWER, died as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, December 29, 1994.
o BRYANT H. PENEY, was murdered while investigating a person acting in a suspicious manner, January 6, 1996.
o JOSE A. DIAZ, died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall while backing up another officer, October 8, 2005.
For additional information please contact Fraternal Order of Police President Jack Lokeinsky at 954-527-2606.
