Fallen Oklahoma Police Officers Remembered At Ceremony In D.C.

President Barack Obama was among those who honored law enforcement Friday during an annual memorial service for fallen police officers on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

A McAlester Police officer who died in 2012 was one of five Oklahoma law enforcement officers remembered at the ceremony.

• Brian Beck with the Washita County Sheriff's Office
• Kelley Chase with the Oklahoma City Police Department
• Terry Fisher with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office
• Mitchell Weeks with the McAlester Police Department
• Kristian Willhight with the Burns Flat Police Department

Weeks' family and a police officer representing McAlester Police attended the ceremony. Mitchell Weeks died of a heart attack in the middle of his shift while on break. Police said Weeks, who was 48 at the time of his death had been an officer for 26 years. The memorial stated Weeks had responded to several calls during his shift which were classified as code two and code three which required a high speed response with emergency lights and siren.

Obama offered his gratitude for the sacrifices of police during the memorial service. He said the law enforcement deaths are a too common reminder that of the risk inherent in their jobs.

A proclamation signed by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the entire week as Police Week.

The 34rd annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service is sponsored by the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police and the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary.