May 15 is National Police Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember officers who have fallen in the line of duty. A memorial service was held Wednesday to honor an Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer killed last week.
More than 1000 people gathered at the Yuma Civic Center to remember DPS officer, Tim Allen Huffman. Huffman was killed when a tanker truck failed to stop at the site of an accident he had responded to on Interstate 8, near Wellton on May 6.
Bart Graves, spokesperson for DPS, said the timing of officer Huffman's death was poignant.
"Sadly his death coincided with the state memorial, but his life was remembered at the day national attention is being paid to all law enforcement officers who have given there all in the line of duty," Graves said.
Huffman is the 41st officer killed in the line of duty this year nationwide. Law enforcement officers came from across the state to mourn Huffman before a private graveside service attended by family.
-Michelle Faust, KAWC