Amid Pandemic, Pierce Deputies Hold Virtual Memorial Service

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — Wednesday, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department will memorialize Deputy Cooper Dyson, who was killed in the line of duty on December 21 last year.

If there had been no coronavirus and no pandemic, deputies with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department would be in Washington D.C. to honor Dyson at the National Law Enforcement Memorial. As part of the event, deputies would have escorted Dyson's family through the nation's Capitol and held a service in his honor. But because the virus is here, National Police week and the annual memorial event have been cancelled.

Undeterred, deputies have decided to honor Dyson as part of a Virtual Candlelight Vigil, set for Wednesday at 5 p.m. The event will be hosted on the Pierce County Sheriff's Department's Facebook page. Deputies say during the memorial, the names of 307 fallen officers will be read aloud, including Dyson's. Also included will be Cowlitz County Sheriff's Deputy Justin DeRosier, Kittitas County Sheriff's Deputy Sheriff Ryan Thompson, and Lynden Police's Interim Police Chief Michael Knapp, all of whom died last year.

Deputy Dyson was just 25 was he was killed in a crash while rushing to the aid of his colleagues. He left behind a pregnant wife and young son. Several fundraisers have been set up to support his family. Donations can be sent via the Tacoma/Pierce County Crimestoppers website, or in person at any TAPCO Credit Union. A traditional ceremony was held for Dyson shortly after his death at the Tacoma Dome.

Read the Sheriff's Deparment's full post on the service below: