On March 5, members of the Salt River Police Department participated in the 19th Annual AZ Fallen Officer Memorial 5K Run/Walk, a community-centered fundraising event hosted by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) Arizona.

The Mission of C.O.P.S. is to help family members and co-workers affected by the death of police officers, either in the line of duty or by suicide. The group provides resources to help those left behind to rebuild their lives.

According to C.O.P.S., each year between one and six Arizona law enforcement officers are killed in the line of duty, and their families and co-workers are let to cope with the loss.

This was the SRPD’s ninth consecutive year attending the event, which was held at the Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix.

The SRPD team members who participated were Det. Erica Jakupi, Police Records Specialist Elicia Kee, Ofc. Barbara Marchant, CSS Rachel Marquez and TPO Anya Musto.

SRPD Police Chief Karl Auerbach said that all SRPD participants made the SRPD and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community proud.

“SRPD team members who attended were a unified, visible team of support for all Arizona fallen police officers, and [they were] there especially to [support the families of] fallen SRPD officers Jair Cabrera and Clayton Townsend,” said Auerbach.

Auerbach said the SRPD’s participation in the event honors the “true heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice of their tomorrows so that we might live in peace today.

“[We must ensure] that we never forget the Arizona police officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice, their very lives, to defend our freedom and liberty” and ensure public safety.