Friday, May 9, West York Police Officer Andrew Duarte joined a small club, the York County police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the public.
Duarte was among the officers honored at the memorial service at the York County Office of Emergency Services, an annual event paying tribute to peace officers who gave their lives in the line of duty.
Duarte died Feb. 22 at UPMC Memorial Hospital while police confronted an armed gunman who had taken workers in the ICU hostage. He was killed by friendly fire, the result of errant pellets from a shotgun fired by a fellow police officer.
West York Police Officer Andrew Duarte’s name has been added to the memorial wall outside York County’s Office of Emergency Services.
More about Duarte: ‘He gave a damn’: Chief, community mourn the loss of heroic young officer Andrew Duarte
Previously: ‘Torrent of evil’: DA explains friendly fire death of Officer Duarte, precipitating events
The service began with bagpipe music and the presentation of the colors, followed by retired York County Regional Police Corporal Keith Dykes, the department’s chaplain, delivering the opening prayer, paying tribute to the service and sacrifice of the officers who have died in the line of duty and honoring “those who have fallen in service to others.”
Duarte’s mother, Nancy Duarte Matarese, sat in the front row.
Guy Hettinger, executive director of public safety for York County, delivered a brief talk and mentioned that “our hearts are heavy with grief” by the addition of a new name to the memorial wall outside the emergency services building.
West York Police Officer Andrew Duarte’s name has been added to the memorial wall outside York County’s Office of Emergency Services.
“Few professions demand as much as that of police officer,” Hettinger told the standing-room-only crowd in the conference room at the emergency services building. “They put on the uniform and go to work every day to face whatever dangers that may arise to protect the lives of strangers.”
Duarte’s name was added to a roster that includes seven others who fell before he did, including York City Police Officer Henry Schaad, who was killed during the 1969 race riots in York; David Tome, who was struck by a car while conducting an accident investigation in 2008, and Fury, a York City canine officer.
West York Police Officer Andrew Duarte’s name has been added to the memorial wall outside York County’s Office of Emergency Services.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Andrew Duarte honored at memorial service for fallen police officers