The uniforms they wore differed in color and style, but the men and women gathered before the Denton County Courts Build­ing on Wednesday were on common ground. They shared the heart of a law enforcement officer.

DRC/Gary Payne

Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper David Farrell, center, bows his head during the invocation at a memorial service for law enforcement officers at the Denton County Courts Building on Wednesday.

View larger More photos Photo store

They formed ranks to observe the 12th annual Denton County Law Enforcement Officers Mem­orial Service. They wore the brown and tan uniform of the Denton County Sheriff’s Office, the khaki of the Texas Depart­ment of Public Safety and the dark blue of Denton, Lewisville, Carrollton and Argyle police and several other departments.

Members of a sheriff’s police academy class lined up to honor the family of brothers and sisters they aspire to be a part of.

The officers and a sprinkling of civilians stood at attention when Sheriff Benny Parkey read the roll call of the county’s dead: Deputy Floyd Cobberly, Feb. 24, 1897; Deputy Robert Bruce Parsons, Aug. 6, 1925; Deputy Carl “Red” Garrett, July 3, 1924; Texas Ranger Bob Doherty, Feb. 20, 1978; Trooper Hollis Lacey, Dec. 26, 1980; Deputy William Thur­ston, Dec. 6, 1986.

A representative of each de­part­ment that lost an officer placed a dark rose on a wreath.

The ceremony was sponsored by the Denton County Law Enforcement Association Lodge No. 67.

It was a solemn half-hour, marked by a proclamation by County Judge Mary Horn, a flag ceremony by the sheriff’s color guard, a 21-gun salute by members of the Denton and Lewisville police honor guards, traditional bagpipe music from a kilted Carrollton police officer and the weeping notes of a single bugle playing taps.

Denton Police Chief Roy Minter told the group of officers and civilians that last year 180 officers died in the line of duty, 22 of them in Texas. Two weeks ago, DPS Trooper Scott Burns was shot to death in Marion County after a high-speed pursuit, he reminded them.

Why do men and women take on such a dangerous job? Some do it for the pay, Minter said. Some do it for the excitement. But most join because of a true commitment to serve and protect their fellow man.

Minter again listed Denton County’s officers who died in the line of duty.

“May they rest in peace,” he said. “May God continue to bless their families and the entire law enforcement family.”

DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .