A riderless horse carried an empty boot as hundreds of law enforcement officers and citizens turned out for the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff’s Peace Officers Memorial on Thursday.

The annual event is held to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and officers recognized go back to the 1800’s. The first officer killed was Santa Clara  Deputy Sheriff Martin J. Roohan in 1862. Roohan was stabbed to death by an prisoner who was awaiting execution.

The last officer who died in the line of duty was San Jose police officer Michael Katherman, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2016.

Sheriff Robert Jonsen gave the greeting to the crowd and the Sheriff’s Honor Guard Unit posted the colors while the Pipes and Drum Corps played. The national anthem was sung by the Pursue Children’s Choir and the Honor Guard also gave a 21-gun salute.

Pastor Michael Burchfield gave the invocation and the benediction to conclude the solemn ceremony which many family members of fallen officers attended.

A riderless horse is walked past the crowd during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Theresa Le observes a moment of silence during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. She was representing for fallen San Jose police officer Michael Katherman, who was killed in a motorcycle accident while on duty in 2016. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Santa Clara Sheriff’s Deputies raise flags during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputy Ortega and others attend the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Law enforcement officers and others listen to speakers during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
A Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputy wears a black band over his badge during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputies observe a moment of silence during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Socrates Peter Manoukian listens as fallen officer’s names are read during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
A California Highway Patrol officer and a Palo Alto police officer observe a moment of silence during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
A large American flag is draped over the building during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Palo Alto police officers listen as names are read during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Wreaths adorn the stage during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputy Guarnera plays “Taps” during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputies prepare to raise flags during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Kevin Richlin, son of fallen Sunnyvale police officer Gary Larson, listens as names are read during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Officer Larson was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a liquor store robbery suspect in 1962. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Deputy Chief Daniel Pistor salutes during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputies raise flags during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
The Pursue Children’s Choir sings the national anthem during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
A bell is rung as names are read for each fallen officer during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 
Santa Clara County Sheriff Robert Jones salutes during the Peace Officer’s Memorial at the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)