Sheriff Margaret Mims is among the winners of the Fresno Chamber's 2022 Ag Awards.

The heart of Fresno County will soon be home to a beacon of honor and solemn remembrance — the Fresno Sheriff Memorial. Currently under construction at the Fresno County Sheriff Area Two Substation in southeast Fresno, the Memorial will be open to all, and will showcase the spirit of courage, sacrifice, and unity for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while in service to Fresno County.

We are blessed to live and work in Fresno County; a place where law and order is still appreciated and respected. It is our communities’ confidence that our deputies, correctional officers and professional staff take with them as they serve and protect our homes, families and communities from those who wish to do us harm.

Our residents know that when they call 9-1-1, help is on the way. Yet, behind every call lies a story of bravery, of individuals who rush toward danger without hesitation, fueled by a deep-seated commitment to safeguarding our neighborhoods and ensuring our well-being. From the days of Fresno Sheriff’s constables to today’s technology-savvy deputies who protect our streets, whose watchful eyes patrol from the skies, who keep our waterways and mountain areas safe, whose drones fly overhead to assess danger; the legacy of service and sacrifice runs deep in Fresno County.

Amid the texts, emails and calendar invites of daily living, it’s all too easy to take our protectors’ sacrifices for granted. We often overlook the inherent dangers they face, the risks they willingly shoulder to keep us safe. As we begin work on the Fresno Sheriff Memorial during May, the month that is dedicated to recognizing Peace Officer’s Memorial Day, I ask you to pause, reflect, and honor those heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our own community. This Memorial will stand as a testament to their valor, a tangible reminder of the price paid for our collective safety and security. Each name placed on the Wall of Honor will tell a story of courage, selflessness, and dedication to a cause greater than oneself. It is a solemn duty, but also a profound privilege, to pay homage to those who have gone before us, to ensure their memory endures for generations to come.

During my 16 years as sheriff, I was privileged to serve the over 1 million residents of our county. However, undeniably, the most painful times were when we lost members of our extended sheriffs’ family. There was nothing more heart-wrenching than personally giving notification to a family member that their loved one would not be coming home.

As we embark on this ambitious endeavor to honor our fallen with this memorial, let us pledge our commitment to supporting those who continue to serve on the front lines, so that we may ensure that their sacrifices are never forgotten; a promise I made personally to those loved ones left behind.

It is incumbent upon us, as members of this community, to stand united in our gratitude. Please extend a hand of support to all of our deputies; to those who safeguard our courts, to the correctional officers who guard the prisoners, the lobby personnel in the jail, the dispatchers who answer the calls, our chaplains who provide prayer and comfort in the most trying of times, and to all of our volunteers from search and rescue and all units, who selflessly give their time in service to the Fresno Sheriff’s office.

The creation of this memorial is a call to action, an invitation to stand shoulder to shoulder with our sheriff’s community, to show them that they are valued, appreciated, and respected members of our community. It will be a place for residents, students and visitors to reflect, remember and learn.

Please join me, Sheriff John Zanoni, retired Sheriff Steve Magarian, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the families of the fallen, the Fresno Sheriff’s Sergeants Association, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, and our growing list of business and community supporters to ensure that this Memorial stands in perpetuity for the heroes of Fresno County. Together, we will honor their memories by embodying the values of courage, compassion, and unity that they exemplified in life.

To learn more about the Fresno Sheriff Memorial please visit fresnosheriffmemorial.org.

In valor, there is hope.

---

The Fresno Sheriff’s Memorial Foundation was established in January of 2022. The Foundation’s sole mission is to honor those members of the Fresno County Sheriff’s office who gave the ultimate sacrifice and died in the line of duty. We will honor their memory, support their family’s needs and pay tribute to their sacrifice.