Obama honors fallen police officers
President Obama on Wednesday honored the memories of police officers killed in action, including a Jupiter, Fla. police officer who was struck by a car and killed last year while riding his motorcycle in the president's motorcade.
"We should not pause and remember to thank first responders and police officers only in the wake of tragedy. We should do it every day," Mr. Obama said at the National Peace Officers Memorial Service on Capitol Hill.
Bruce St. Laurent, the officer killed in Mr. Obama's motorcade, was described as "just what a cop should be," the president said. "Tough, compassionate, caring and brave."
The president said he works with some of the nation's best officers every day. "I'm perpetually mindful of the sacrifices they make for me and my family... never more so than when I was told Officer St. Laurent was struck and killed."
Mr. Obama spoke about the personal and professional lives of the officers being honored, remarking, "We can never repay our debt to these officers and their families, but we must do all that we can to live our lives in a way that pays tribute to their memory."
Along with the president, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; Attorney General Eric Holder, FBI Director Robert Mueller and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano were in attendance.