SALT LAKE CITY -- The name of slain Ogden police officer Jared Francom was added to the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial during a solemn ceremony Thursday at the state Capitol.
Francom, assigned to the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force, was killed in a Jan. 4 shootout and five officers were wounded while executing a search warrant. He is the 134th Utah officer to die in the line of duty and to be listed on the memorial.
Nearly 200 police officers from across the state attended Thursday's ceremony, said Dwayne Baird, a spokesman for the Utah Department of Public Safety.
"It was wonderful to have them show up for all the fallen officers and family members left behind," Baird said.
Francom's widow and two children also attended the ceremony.
Gov. Gary Herbert was the keynote speaker. He paid tribute to Francom's for his sacrifice and said law officers constantly put themselves in harm's way, according to his prepared remarks.
Travis Francom, who is Jared Francom's brother, also spoke at the ceremony. He told the crowd Francom always wanted to be a police officer.
Ogden Police Chief Mike Ashment attended the ceremony at the Capitol and described the event as moving.
"It was very touching," he said. "It made me feel good inside about what we (law officers) do."
Ogden police also held a private ceremony Thursday for Francom's family, to unveil a memorial outside of the city's Public Safety Building, 2186 Lincoln Ave.
The memorial consists of a stone marker embossed with Francom's portrait, surrounded by five planted Eastern redbud trees to symbolize the wounded officers. The deep purple blooms of the trees represent honor, courage and nobility, according to Ashment.
Francom was killed and the five officers were injured in a shootout at the home of Matthew David Stewart, 3268 Jackson Ave. Stewart was also wounded.
Stewart, 37, has been charged with aggravated murder, seven counts of attempted aggravated murder and production of a controlled substance. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against him.
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