Never forgotten

A memorial service Wednesday to honor officers statewide who lost their lives while on duty was particularly poignant for members of the Odessa Police Department.

A strong West Texas wind couldn't stop more than 150 people - including officers from Lubbock - from attending a police memorial that paid tribute to officers lost in the line of duty.

The September shooting deaths of corporals Arlie "Lee" Jones, Scott Gardner and Abel Marquez lingered heavily in the minds of those present.

"The thing about it is we're still healing," Lt. Art Fuentes, Odessa Fraternal Order of Police president, said. "Some of the guys still haven't fully had their closure."

The Odessa Fraternal Order of Police holds the annual event during National Police Memorial Week. On Wednesday fallen officers were remembered through out the state.

But the poignancy of the department's recent loss weighed strongly.

On that tragic Saturday night, Jones and Gardner were shot and pronounced dead at the scene. Marquez died four days later of injuries he sustained in the shooting.

Odessa Mayor Larry Melton and Ector County Commissioner Freddie Gardner used the ceremony Wednesday to proclaim the day National Police Memorial Day throughout the city and county.

"We're here this morning to both remember and commemorate the sacrifice and commitment of our law enforcement officers serving our community, our state and our nation," Melton said.

Families from seven area officers who died while on duty were in attendance, including Nancy Hall, Odessa Police Officer Scott Stanton Smith's mother.

Smith was killed in 1988. This was the first year his two daughters, Krystal and Kelsie, were able to attend the memorial.

Hall said she was happy to be able to share the experience with her granddaughters.

"(It's) wonderful," Hall said. "It's what gets me through the pain. We're not ever going to forget Scott - no one is."

Along with Ector County sheriff's deputies, state troopers, and Midland PD, Lubbock police officers were also at the service.

"They helped us when our officers were lost last year," Odessa police Cpl. Sherrie Carruth said. "They're here today to show their support."

During the memorial, each gravesite was visited and each officer was remembered for what they died for and how they lived.

"These officers won't be forgotten," Fuentes said. "We want the families (to know) we will continue to honor their officers."

THE FALLEN

>> Ector County Sheriff's Deputy Thad West was shot and killed Feb. 27, 1958, while investigating a report of a couple trying to sell a 4-month-old baby.

>> Odessa police Cpl. Gordon ‘G.T.' Toal, a motorcycle officer, was killed Aug. 19, 1982, in a traffic accident. He was escorting a funeral when the accident happened. He was a two-year veteran of the OPD.

>> Odessa Officer Scott Stanton Smith, a motorcycle officer, died Feb. 6, 1988, of injuries from a traffic accident on Aug. 3, 1987. He was a four-year veteran of the OPD.

>> Lubbock Officer Rodney Kendricks, a motorcycle officer, died July 8, 2001, of injuries from a July 2, 2001, accident. Kendrick was escorting a funeral in Lubbock.

>> Odessa police Cpl. Arlie "Lee" Jones was shot and killed Sept. 8, 2007, while responding to a domestic disturbance call.

>> Odessa police Cpl. John Scott Gardner was shot and killed Sept. 8, 2007, while responding to a domestic disturbance call.

>> Odessa police Cpl. Abel Marquez was shot while responding to a domestic disturbance call on Sept. 8, 2007. He succumbed to his injuries on Sept. 12, 2007.