Remembering fallen officers from both sides of river

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE POLICE SERVICE

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Project Blue Light aims to honour local Ontario and Michigan officers who have died in the line of duty and to pray for those officers working the streets this holiday season. 

When 

7 p.m. - 8 p.m., Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Where

Bethel Bible Chapel, 686 Black Road, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Who

Law enforcement officers from Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma, Sault, Michigan and Chippewa County.

How

By song and prayer and readings from members of our community and invited guests.

History

Project Blue Light was started in Philadelphia by Dolly Craig in 1986 after her son-in-law was killed in the line of duty.

It is now a nationally celebrated event, with people all over placing blue lights in their windows during the holidays to commemorate fallen officers and to pray for the officers working the streets during the holiday season. 

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service was introduced to Project Blue Light in December 2010 when their Honour Guard was invited to participate in Bay City.

Guest Speaker is Nancy MacDonald, wife of fallen Greater Sudbury Officer Joe (Joey) MacDonald.

Officers to be honoured during vigil:

• Senior Constable Don J. Y. Doucet, Sault Ste. Marie Police Service

• Constable Joseph (Joey) MacDonald, Sudbury Regional Police Service

• Constable Richard Melio Verdecchia, Ontario Provincial Police

• Constable Richard Eric Nystedt, Ontario Provincial Police

• Conservation Officer Walter Ceolin, Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer

• Detective John Raymond Weir, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Police Department

• Officer Clyde Edward Powell, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Police Department

• Officer Torrence MacMillan, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Police Department

Invitations will be handed to all families of fallen officers in the Sault Algoma Area, including Sault Michigan and Chippewa County. 

Agencies invited to represent the area include: RCMP, OPP, Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, First Nations Police, Customs, MNR, Sault Michigan PD, Michigan State Police, U.S. Border Patrol, Chippewa County Sherriff and Homeland Security.

The ceremony is opened to the public and media. 

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