The annual Police Officer Memorial Ceremony held Friday was one of mixed emotions for one the families who saw their son honored. Urbandale officer Justin Martin’s name was added to the memorial with three other officers who were killed in the line of duty. Martin was ambushed and shot to death on November 2nd while on patrol. His mother Jayne Martin says the ceremony honoring her son and the other officers was heartwarming, but she also felt sadness as she continues to deal with his death.
Justin’s father Randy says the ceremony brings a lot of emotions back up as they work through the grieving process.
The Martins are from Rockwell City and he says the community support all around has been a big help in dealing with the loss.
The City of Urbandale named a reading room at the public library after Justin, and Friday’s ceremony featured honor guards of officers from around the state in full dress uniforms. Des Moines officer Anthony Bemino was also honored during the ceremony. He was shot to death a short time later on November 2nd by the same man accused of killing Martin.
