May 12, 2025 3:40 a.m.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating every May 15th as Peace Officer Memorial Day, and the week in which it falls as National Police Week.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will host a local Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony on the front lawn of the courthouse on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. to pay tribute to the six Douglas County law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

They are:

*Officer Donald DeSues – Roseburg Police Department – End of Watch on August 7, 1959

*Special Deputy Ronald H. Terwilleger – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – End of Watch on July 23, 1985

*Corporal Virgle Knight Jr. -Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – End of Watch on July 23, 1985

*Sergeant Gerald G. Chirrick – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – End of Watch on July 23, 1985

*Deputy Morris L. Taylor – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – End of Watch on September 14, 2002

*Deputy S. Allen Burdic – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – End of Watch on March 11, 2021

The ceremony is open to members of the community who wish to pay remembrance to the fallen and their families. The tribute will include a proclamation reading by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, a police honor guard, wreath laying ceremony, bagpipes, 21-gun salute and a county-wide radio broadcast.