Ceremony honors fallen officers

Fallen officers from Orange County police agencies were honored Wednesday at the annual Orange County Peace Officers’ Memorial ceremony.

Members of the Costa Mesa Police Department were among those attending the event, held at the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy in Tustin, where the memorial monument is located.

Laguna Beach Police Chief Paul Workman delivered the keynote speech. The name of Laguna Beach motorcycle Police Officer Jon Coutchie, who died last year in a vehicle crash while on duty, was to be added to the memorial site, according to a news release.

Two Costa Mesa police helicopter pilots, James Ketchum and John Libolt, died in 1987 when their helicopter Eagle II collided with another police helicopter.

“Wednesday’s ceremony was a reminder to Orange County attendees how their police officers are charged with protecting the communities they serve, sometimes requiring these officers to stand in harm’s way and pay the ultimate price, laying down their life in their service to others,” the release said.

A candlelight vigil had been scheduled for the night before.

— Emily Foxhall

Twitter: @emfoxhall