Twenty-six Columbia police officers were planning to travel to Washington, D.C., this weekend to attend a ceremony in honor of Columbia police Officer Molly Bowden and other law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2005. The 18th annual Candlelight Vigil was to be held Saturday evening at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
“I’m sure it will be a sad event for the participants, but it’s something we all need to do to honor Molly,” said Capt. Brad Nelson of the Columbia Police Department.
Though Bowden’s name was etched in the blue-gray marble walls of the memorial in mid-April, she will be officially recognized for her service during the ceremony along with 155 other federal, state and local law enforcement officers. Five of those, including Bowden, were female officers.
Most of the Columbia officers were flying to the ceremony, Nelson said, but some were driving the distance. He said the department had enough officers to maintain minimum staffing while they’re gone.
“The majority of those going either worked with Molly on second shift or were personal friends of hers,” Nelson said. “However, Molly touched everybody’s life in some way.”
Police Chief Randy Boehm, who flew into Washington, D.C., on Saturday afternoon, said this was his first time attending National Police Week. Boehm said Bowden’s parents, Dave and Beverly Thomas, were attending the event along with her husband, Columbia police Officer Corey Bowden.
Boehm said Saturday evening that he expected mixed feelings during the event.
“I think certainly it’s a solemn event. We are here again remembering one of our sisters we lost in line of duty,” he said. “But at the same time, there is some honor related to that. While we’re certainly sorry we lost her, we’re happy there’s a way to recognize her sacrifice and her family’s sacrifice on a national level.”
National Police Week starts today and continues through May 22. The week was created in 1962 to respect, honor and remember police officers across the nation. The Memorial Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, where Bowden will be recognized for her service, contains more than 17,500 names of officers who died while serving the United States on federal, state and local levels. In addition to Bowden, seven Missouri law enforcement officers will also be recognized.
Boehm said he thought the ceremony was important to honor not just Bowden, but her family, as well.
“More than anything, this is another opportunity to make sure her family recognizes how important she was to us and the community,” Boehm said. “To make sure they know she’ll never be forgotten.”