A blue Christmas tree was installed by Indiana county to honor officers killed in the line of duty.

5years ago

A blue Christmas tree was installed by Indiana county to honor officers who died while performing their duties.

At the Boone County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana, a Christmas tree with 137 blue ornaments was displayed to represent the 137 officers killed in the line of duty this year, including Boone County’s own Deputy Jacob Pickett. Each ornament was hand-written with the officer’s name, rank, and end of watch date.

Mike Gideon, Boone County Senior Dispatch Officer and a close friend of Pickett said:

“It means a lot to all of us – we were all very close. He was a wonderful officer, and it’s our way of honoring him and the other 136 officers that have been killed this year.”

"That's a life. That's a life that matters. That's a chair that's empty. That's a car that's not being driven. That is an incredible hero that's no longer walking our streets, so it meant something,” said Joni Scott, Boone Co Sheriff’s Office Chaplain.

each ornament will be sent to the department where the officer worked when Christmas ends.