How
do you say thanks forever, to those who gave everything?
In
2002, at the direction of Chief Norman Williams and Sheriff Gary
Steed, a volunteer committee comprised of members from the Wichita
Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, and several
non-law enforcement representatives formed the Law Enforcement
Memorial Committee of Sedgwick County, Inc.
The Law Enforcement Memorial Committee (LEMC) was tasked with
building a memorial to honor local and county law enforcement
officers from
throughout Sedgwick County who have given their lives while protecting
our communities.
Since its inception, the LEMC, Inc. has been granted permission
by Mayor Mayans and the City Council to erect the memorial on
the southwest corner of Central and Main. The memorial design
was developed through local artist Constance Ernatt, and is currently
in the midst of fundraising efforts. The estimated cost of the
memorial has been placed at $550,000 to be raised through community
support. The LEMC hopes to raise the remaining funds by year’s
end.
The memorial is designed both to honor law enforcement officers
and to be a public work of
art. The centerpiece of the memorial is a life-sized bronze statue
of two lions, one male and one female, watching vigilantly over
the community. The lions stand at the base of an eternal flame,
comprised of a bronze frame and blue glass, lit by fiber optic
lighting. Bronze replicas of the United States and Kansas flags
stand between the lions next to the pillar. Behind a wall is a
meditation area in which each officer is represented individually
with a plaque and beneath sets a pair of bronze boots or shoes.
The clay model of the bronze is currently being sculpted and
is on display at Ernatt Art and Bronze, located at 424 S. Commerce
in the Art District. Donations to the memorial may be made to:
Law Enforcement Memorial
Wichita Community Foundation
Epic Center, 301 N. Main Ste. 100
Wichita, Kansas 67202-3002
In
2002, at the direction of Chief Norman Williams and Sheriff Gary
Steed, a volunteer committee comprised of members from the Wichita
Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, and several
non-law enforcement representatives formed the Law Enforcement
Memorial Committee of Sedgwick County, Inc. 
throughout Sedgwick County who have given their lives while protecting
our communities. 
of
art. The centerpiece of the memorial is a life-sized bronze statue
of two lions, one male and one female, watching vigilantly over
the community. The lions stand at the base of an eternal flame,
comprised of a bronze frame and blue glass, lit by fiber optic
lighting. Bronze replicas of the United States and Kansas flags
stand between the lions next to the pillar. Behind a wall is a
meditation area in which each officer is represented individually
with a plaque and beneath sets a pair of bronze boots or shoes.
