RICHMOND, Va. -- A memorial dedication ceremony Saturday paid tribute to all of the officers killed in the line of duty in Virginia.
"They are the pride of Virginia,” Virginia Public Safety Foundation President Paula Miller said.
"We will now join those 44 other states who have a memorial to honor those public safety officers who sacrifice daily to keep Virginians safe,” Governor Terry McAuliffe said.
Doug Wendel was a Richmond police officer that was killed in the line of duty.
In 2003 Wendel responded to a call on the city's Southside involving a suspected drug dealer when he was shot and killed.
"It's hard -- and it's something that never goes away,” said Anne Wendel, Doug Wendel’s wife.
Anne Wendel said events like the memorial dedication are bittersweet.
"It's a way to express how I feel and get all of those emotions out to come to events like this,” said Wendel.
Wendel said she gets emotional when she watches recent protests and rallies against police actions in Ferguson and New York.
"It bothers me to see the hostile environment between the police department and the public in other places," she said. "Better education and communication between residents and police will help everyone heal."
