OLYMPIA, WA – The 2023 Law Enforcement Medal of Honor / Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony was held in Olympia on Friday. The ceremony recognized members of law enforcement who have been killed in the line of duty or have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct. Brian Johnston, Executive Director of the Behind the Badge Foundation, explained that the event was to show their unwavering support for all law enforcement officers.
Dan Templeman, Chief of the Everett Police Department, read the names of the four law enforcement officers who lost their lives in 2022 – including one of his own officers.
Those officers, along with three others who lost their lives in previous years, were added to the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial located on the Capitol campus. They include:
John Frederick Mines
King County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch 7/19/1946
Horace P. Stewart
Stevens County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch 2/18/1867
George H. Yeaman, Jr.
King County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch 07/22/1946
In addition, 18 officers received the state’s Medal of Honor:
Everett Police Department
Officer Daniel Rocha – End of Watch 3/25/2022
Kent Police Department
Officer Sean Goforth
Officer Beau Mattheis
Officer Jace Sloan
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department
Deputy Dominique Calata – End of Watch 3/16/2022
Deputy Alexander Brandt
Deputy Nathan Coggin
Detective Patrick Dos Remedios
Deputy James Maas
Deputy Ryan Olivarez
Sergeant Richard Scaniffe
Deputy Tyler Seavey
Sergeant Robert Shaw
Washington State Patrol
Patrolman Vernon Fortin – End of Watch 9/30/1923
Trooper Dean Atkinson
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Ryan Rathbun
Deputy Jason Thompson
Vancouver Police Department
Officer Donald Sahota – End of Watch 1/29/2022
Watch the ceremony HERE.
