5/5/14 - Police officers, family, friends and others gathered at a memorial service Friday to remember a fallen officer from Livingston County. Patrick O'Rourke of Tyrone Township was killed in the line of duty September 9th, 2012. Friday was officially declared Law Enforcement Day in West Bloomfield, where he worked. His widow, Amy OâRourke, spoke to all of the officers and their families who gathered at the ceremony which dedicated a monument that bears his name. "I want to encourage my fellow public safety wives and husbands to love your officers, to tell them you love them, often, and most especially when they are heading off to work. It could be your last chance to tell them. I truly believed that this nightmare would never happen to me, but it did. I am so grateful that Patrick, as he always did, even if he was running late, found each of us where we were in our home and kissed and hugged us goodbye, telling us he loved us. That is such a gift to us, there is no doubt and no regret now." The monument, which stands outside the West Bloomfield Police Department, represents all fallen officers. O'Rourke's name is the only one engraved on it, and his wife said she hopes it stays that way. (JK)
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