OGDEN, Utah – Ogden Police Officer Jared Francom will be honored in Washington, D.C., during National Police Week.
Francom was shot and killed in an attempted drug raid last January. Police say that when he and other members of the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force entered Matthew David Stewart’s Ogden home, Stewart opened fire, killing Francom and injuring five other officers.
Ogden police officers and city officials will join Francom’s family in the nation’s capitol on May 15 to see his name placed on the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial.
“This is the first time since 1963 that an Ogden officer will be honored at this national memorial,” said Ogden Police Chief Mike Ashment. “There is a lot of emotion involved in this event. It’s not just the family or our department that has felt the pain of loss, but an entire community who is personally connected to that tragic day over 16 months ago.”
The service will recognize law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2012.
Francom’s wife, Erin, his two young daughters, his parents and his brothers, along with other officers involved in the shooting will be in attendance, along with Mayor Mike Caldwell, Chief Administrative Officer Mark Johnson, Police Chief Mike Ashment, Assistant Chief Eric Young, Sheriff Terry Thompson and County Attorney Dee Smith.
Stewart is now facing multiple felony charges and prosecutors say they’ll seek the death penalty if Stewart is convicted.
