Officers Wallin, Martin, McCarthy and Owens Honored During Candlelight Vigil in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) — A somber night under the stars in Washington, D.C. during National Police Week.

The names of hundreds of officers killed in the line of duty are read during the 36th Annual Candlelight Vigil.

“From the state of North Dakota: Charles McCarthy. Jake Ryan Wallin. Continuing from the state of North Dakota: Paul Steven Martin.

“Their names are now forever etched among the 24,067 heroes who make up the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. We remember them all, we will honor them all, they represent the very best of America,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told the crowd.

A bell rang out after the names of the fallen were read from each state.

The lighting of the memorial candle followed and spread throughout the crowd.

Officer Jake Wallin was killed in the line of duty in Fargo last July.

Deputy Paul Martin of Mercer County was killed last December while Burleigh County Sheriff Charles McCarthy died in 1874 and is just being honored now.

Also honored was Pope County, Minnesota Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Owen who died in the line of duty in April 2023.

Their names have been added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial.