THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 13, 1995 TAG: 9505130240
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Police departments nationwide, including those in Hampton Roads, will honor officers who have fallen in the line of duty with observances throughout next week.
In Washington, a candlelight vigil will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday the National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial. The scheduled guest speakers are Vice President Al Gore and Attorney General Janet Reno.
National Peace Officers Memorial Day observances will begin at noon Monday on the Mall between 3rd and 4th streets. President Clinton will speak.
During the observances, a roll call of the names of all officers who died in the past year will be read. Their names have been added to the national memorial.
Among the names will be those of three Hampton Roads police officers - two from Newport News and one from Hampton - who were shot and killed while on duty.
Steven R. Rutherford, 28, of the Newport News Police Department died of gunshot wounds he received Jan. 11 while trying to stop a robbery.
He was posing as a pizza delivery driver during an undercover operation in the Denbigh area.
Rutherford had been on the force since September 1988 and had served as an auxiliary officer before that.
Kenneth E. Wallace, 29, a seven-year veteran of the Hampton Police Department, died of gunshot wounds he received while sitting in his patrol car Feb. 22 after patrolling a shopping center.
Larry Bland, 48, of the Newport News Police Department was shot to death while making a traffic stop on May 13.
Bland had been a longtime volunteer auxiliary police officer before getting a full-time job on the Newport News Police Department less than two years before he died.
Their deaths will be remembered by all area police departments.
``The Virginia Beach Police Department has been fortunate not to have had an officer killed since 1991,'' spokesman Lou Thurston said.
``However, we understand and share the feelings of sorrow the Newport News and Hampton police departments feel in the loss of their fellow officers.''
Some of the local observances:
Portsmouth - Virginia Attorney General James S. Gilmore III will be the guest speaker at observances at 1 p.m. Thursday in City Council chambers on the 6th floor at 810 Crawford St.
Since 1871, 11 police and public safety officers have died in the line of duty. The last died in December 1991.
Norfolk - The Police Department will hold a memorial on Monday at 10 a.m. in the south courtyard of the Public Safety Building at 811 E. City Hall Ave.
Since 1904, 33 police officers have died in the line of duty. The last two officers killed died in April 1984.
Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge Lester V. Moore Jr., will be the speaker at the ceremonies which will include a wreath laying and a ringing of the city bell.
Virginia Beach - Del. Robert F. McDonnell, R-Virginia Beach, will be the guest speaker at a memorial service on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in front of police headquarters at the Municipal Center.
The service will include a roll call of all officers killed in the line of duty, the passing of a riderless horse, the playing of ``Amazing Grace'' on bagpipes, a flyover, a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps.
Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf and Police Chief Charles R. Wall also will speak.
Since 1923, eight city police officers have died in the line of duty.
Newport News - A police review will begin at 10:30 a.m. today at the Newmarket South Shopping Center.
The ceremony coincides with the first anniversary of the death of Officer Bland.
On Wednesday, a memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. at Hilton Christian Church.
On Sunday, May 21, a ``Back the Blue'' rally will be held at 3 p.m. at Patrick Henry Mall.
KEYWORDS: POLICE OFFICER COP KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY MEMORIAL by CNB