As part of National Police Week, the department held its 13th annual Wheeling Police Department Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday. In the past, the event has always taken place outdoors at Heritage Port, but this week, with the threat of rain, the ceremony was moved indoors at the West Virginia Northern Community College Education Center.

May 15 is designated as National Peace Officers Memorial Day, when a national memorial service will take place in Washington, D.C., on the U.S. Capitol lawn. For that ceremony – like Wednesday night’s ceremony at WVNCC – one name has been added to the list of fallen officers from the Wheeling Police Department. That name – K-9 Jericho – will be read among the other officers to be honored and memorialized during the national ceremony on Friday.

With 10 years of service, Jericho was the longest-serving police dog in the Wheeling Police Department’s history when he died suddenly and unexpectedly as a result of medical issues this past fall while serving the community. His end of watch is listed as Sept. 22, 2025.

From the first listed officer lost back in 1886 until Jericho’s passing late last year, a total of nine police officers and now one K-9 officer from the department have died while serving the residents of the city. More than half a century had passed since the last officer on the force died in the line of duty. Until last year, the most recent entry on the list of the fallen was Patrolman James Reiter Bailey, whose end of watch was Oct. 11, 1971.

Photo by Eric Ayres Deputy Chief Josh Sanders of the Wheeling Police Department tolls a bell in honor of fallen officers.

Officials noted that remembering those who have died in the line of duty prompts a reminder of the risks and sacrifices made by all of those who serve.

“This shield upon my chest doesn’t weigh much … until you put it on,” Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said. “It is symbolic of many things. Much like the core values of the Wheeling Police Department, it stands for things like integrity, respect, leadership, service and courage, to name just a few. My hope is that everyone understands what it represents.

“The shield can be very heavy at times.”

Wednesday’s ceremony paid tribute not only to the fallen officers in the department’s history locally, but also to those who lost their lives or who have been disabled while protecting communities around the state and across the country.

“Their duty was to serve,” Schwertfeger said. “Our duty is to remember.”

Photo by Eric Ayres Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger, left, reads the names of fallen officers while Deputy Chief Josh Sanders tolls a bell after each name was read during the memorial ceremony.

Riley Moore made a special guest appearance during Wednesday’s ceremony, sharing words of support and tipping his hat to the men and women on the police force.

“Yesterday was election day in West Virginia, and voters came out to decide who they were going to put their trust in,” Moore said, noting that election day only comes twice a year. “West Virginians put their trust every single day in you, and that’s not lost on me,” Moore told the officers at the event. “I’ve just come here to say thank you, God bless you and we honor you for doing this and for doing what you do every single day.”

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia Matthew L. Harvey was the featured speaker for this year’s ceremony. He said as part of his job, he works alongside many extraordinary law enforcement officers on a daily basis.

Like those who wear the uniform today, the nine officers killed in the line of duty in Wheeling over the decades at one time raised their right hand, took an oath and accepted a responsibility to protect others.

“Last year, as mentioned, 115 law enforcement officers in America were killed in the line of duty,” Harvey said. “Those are not statistics. Those are partners, friends, parents, children, sons and daughters whose absence leaves permanent scars on their families and in the hearts of their communities.”

Photo by Eric Ayres Members of the Wheeling Police Department Honor Guard sit at attention during the ceremony.

In the face of these tragedies, fellow officers continue to serve. That commitment deserves strong support from the community, Harvey noted.

“They run towards danger while others try to escape,” he said. “Behind every badge is a human being willing to sacrifice for people in the community they may never meet.

“Tonight we honor those who gave everything when they answered that call.”

A wreath was laid in honor of the fallen officers, a 21-gun salute was fired outside and taps was performed during the ceremony. The names of each fallen officer was read along with a ceremonial tolling of a bell.

The list of honored officers – all patrolmen – and their listed end of watch included John P. Brady, Sept. 27, 1886; Joseph Glenn, Jan. 17, 1888; Salvia C. “Lafe” Bowen, Dec. 26, 1902; Henry Carl Seamon, Feb. 26, 1917; Herman Henry Bartels, May 3, 1922; Ray Melvin Lazear, Jan. 12, 1925; Charles Ulrich “Bud” Brunhaus, Jan. 20, 1926; James Robert Wolfe, Jan. 31, 1931; James Reiter Bailey, Oct. 11, 1971; and K-9 Jericho, Sept. 22, 2025.

Photo by Eric Ayres U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia Matthew L. Harvey was the featured speaker Wednesday night during the 13th annual Wheeling Police Department Law Enforcement Memorial ceremony.

Members of the Wolfe family have attended the annual memorial ceremony every year. Among those in attendance were his grandchildren, whose father was just a toddler when Patrolman Wolfe died as a result of a motorcycle accident while on duty in the city nearly a century ago. They said their father used to share stories about their grandfather, and now the department honors him and the others during the annual event.

“We come every year,” the Wolfe family members noted. “It’s just a very nice ceremony.”

Photo by Eric Ayres U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia Matthew L. Harvey was the featured speaker Wednesday night during the 13th annual Wheeling Police Department Law Enforcement Memorial ceremony.

Photo by Eric Ayres U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia Matthew L. Harvey was the featured speaker Wednesday night during the 13th annual Wheeling Police Department Law Enforcement Memorial ceremony.

Photo by Eric Ayres U.S. Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) addressed the crowd on hand Wednesday night during the 13th annual Wheeling Police Department Law Enforcement Memorial.

Photo by Eric Ayres Wheeling Vice Mayor Jerry Sklavounakis welcomes guests to the 13th annual Wheeling Police Department Law Enforcement Memorial Wednesday night at West Virginia Northern Community College.

Photo by Eric Ayres A motorcycle and boots are displayed as part of the memorial to fallen officers during Wednesday night's ceremony.

Photo by Eric Ayres Members of the WV Highlanders of American Legion Post 29 perform during the memorial ceremony.

Photo by Eric Ayres Nine patrolmen and one K-9 officer in the Wheeling Police Department have died in the line of duty during the department's 220-year history.