Dozens of officers and military members gathered Sunday for National Peace Officers Memorial Day on MacDill Air Force Base. There's also events all week dedicated to remembering the sacrifices of police officers across the country.
"We are remembering and honoring all of the fallen police officers nationwide who paid the ultimate sacrifice," Staff Sgt. USAF Adam Borgman said.
Dozens of Tampa Bay area law enforcement officers also serve as Air Force reservists.
"It's like a brotherhood, a sisterhood so when someone loses their life in the military or a law enforcement officer that is killed it's still a painful feeling," Plant City Officer Arthur Harrison said.
Names of the 35 officers who have been killed in the line of duty were read out loud. Most of the officers were killed far from Tampa, but Deputy John Kotfila's name was on the list. Kotfila was killed in March when his patrol car was hit by a wrong-way driver.
"It's still a painful feeling, because they are a part of your family," said Harrison.
National Police week begins on May 15.
