Efforts to memorialize fallen officers lauded at Lenawee County police memorial service

Members of Lenawee County’s law enforcement community and relatives of officers who have died in the line of duty in the county bow their heads as the Rev. Michael Newman of Holy Family Parish in Adrian gives the benediction Monday during the annual Peace Officers Memorial Day service at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian.
Members of Lenawee County’s law enforcement community and relatives of officers who have died in the line of duty in the county bow their heads as the Rev. Michael Newman of Holy Family Parish in Adrian gives the benediction Monday during the annual Peace Officers Memorial Day service at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian.

ADRIAN — Officers who have died in the line of duty in Lenawee County were honored Monday by members of the county’s law enforcement community and relatives at the annual Peace Officers Memorial Day service.

May 15 was designated Peace Officers Memorial Day in 1962 by an act signed by President John F. Kennedy. The week in which May 15 falls is designated Police Week.

Lenawee County Undersheriff Jeff Ewald, right, salutes Monday after relatives of Clayton Constable Richard Teske — from left, daughter Susan Barber, son Gary Teske and sister Esther McNair — placed a rose for Teske in a wreath during the annual Peace Officers Memorial Day service at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian.
Lenawee County Undersheriff Jeff Ewald, right, salutes Monday after relatives of Clayton Constable Richard Teske — from left, daughter Susan Barber, son Gary Teske and sister Esther McNair — placed a rose for Teske in a wreath during the annual Peace Officers Memorial Day service at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian.

The eight officers who died were remembered by the placement of a red rose in a wreath placed before the law enforcement memorial at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian. Relatives of some of the officers were in attendance and, escorted by an officer, paid their respects to their departed loved ones.

The eight officers are:

  • Officer Dennis Lyons, Adrian Police Department. Lyons was shot and killed during a foot pursuit on April 24, 1880.

  • Deputy Stanley Hoisington, Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office. Hoisington died in a plane crash on Oct. 14, 1936, near Britton while helping look for a pair of car thieves from Detroit.

  • Trooper Calvin Jones, Michigan State Police. Jones died in a car crash Feb. 10, 1956, while pursuing a car on M-52 south of Adrian.

  • Trooper Dugald Pellot, Michigan State Police. Pellot was shot and killed Sept. 30, 1957.

  • Constable Richard Teske, Clayton. On Aug. 17, 1964, Teske was pursuing a stolen car when he lost control of the car he was driving, crashed and died from his injuries.

  • Trooper Rodger Adams, Michigan State Police. Adams and Trooper John Kopacz were on their way to investigate a traffic crash May 14, 1971, when they rounded a curve on U.S. 12 and collided with an oncoming car that crossed into their lane. Adams was killed instantly and Kopacz was seriously injured, but recovered.

  • Officer Bobby Williams, Adrian Police Department. Williams pulled over a car matching the description of a car involved in an armed robbery on June 30, 1975. The driver pulled a weapon and shot Williams twice, killing him. Both men in the car were apprehended later.

  • Trooper Byron Erickson, Michigan State Police. Erickson was pursuing the driver of a stolen sports car in an unmarked detective's car on June 30, 1993. Erickson swerved his vehicle to avoid a vehicle not involved in the pursuit and lost control, crashing his car along Shepherd Road in Adrian Township. Erickson died of his injuries on July 31, 1993.

Pellot’s death occurred during one of the most violent days for the state police, which is detailed in the book “Heart Shots” by Clif Edwards, a retired Michigan State Police detective and Onsted High School graduate. Sgt. Fred O'Donnell and Pellot were pursuing two vehicles that were involved in the shooting of a trooper from the Clinton post. O'Donnell left Pellot to guard suspects in one car they pulled over and drove off after the second vehicle. One of the suspects pulled a gun and shot Pellot. Both vehicles drove to Indiana, fleeing a manhunt of 400 officers. They engaged police in a massive gunfight at a blockade, wounding two Indiana state troopers and a city police officer. The man who shot Pellot was killed in the gunfire and dumped on the roadside by his partners, who were apprehended later. One of the Indiana troopers died from his wounds.

Adrian Police Chief Vince Emrick, right, salutes, Monday as Rick Williams, brother of Adrian Police Officer Bobby Williams, places a rose in a wreath for Bobby Williams during the annual Peace Officers Memorial Day service at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian.
Adrian Police Chief Vince Emrick, right, salutes, Monday as Rick Williams, brother of Adrian Police Officer Bobby Williams, places a rose in a wreath for Bobby Williams during the annual Peace Officers Memorial Day service at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian.

Jim Driskill of Hudson, a retired teacher and former Lenawee County commissioner, spoke about efforts to designate roads for the officers near where they died and have road signs placed. He thanked state Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Onsted, Zorn’s legislative aide Shane Preston, state Rep. Bronna Kahle, R-Adrian, Scott Merillat and the Lenawee County Road Commission, and Sue Hammersmith and the Lenawee Community Foundation for their efforts to pay for the signs and have them placed.

Lenawee County Commissioner Terry Collins, R-Adrian, who is a retired Adrian police chief, credited Driskill for his determination to see the project through.

Members of Lenawee County’s law enforcement community and relatives of officers who have died in the line of duty in the county gathered Monday for the annual Peace Officers Memorial Day service at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian.
Members of Lenawee County’s law enforcement community and relatives of officers who have died in the line of duty in the county gathered Monday for the annual Peace Officers Memorial Day service at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian.

More photos: Service honors line of duty deaths of Lenawee County law enforcement officers

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: 2022 Peace Officers Memorial Day service in Adrian