CINCINNATI — National Police Week recognizes the dedication and sacrifice of peace officers killed in the line of duty. In southwest Ohio, that duty is being fulfilled with a memorial ceremony and parade through the streets of the Queen City. 

What You Need To Know

  • Police in Hamilton County honored their fallen officers with a ceremony and parade in Downtown Cincinnati

  • Andrea Booker honored her father Charles McDonald’s legacy by becoming an officer as well

  • Each department laid flowers at the police memorial in front of CPD District 1

  • A 21-gun salute and prayer service concluded the ceremony
​​Hundreds of police officers, elected officials and families gathered in Cincinnati on Fountain Square to celebrate the lives, memories and legacies of police officers killed in the line of duty. 

Cincinnati police officer Andrea Booker and her grandmother, Patricia McDonald, were in the front row for the event. 

They represented and celebrated the life of the late Forest Park police officer Charles McDonald, who died 21 years ago from a heart attack. 

“He was a great father and a great officer,” Booker said. “He was a great representation of what I wanted to be growing up, and that’s what I am now. I’m honoring his legacy.”

Patricia misses her son dearly, but knows the community highly respected him.

Law enforcement agencies from all around Cincinnati marched from Fountain Square to the memorial in front of Cincinnati Police District 1.

Booker was just a teenager when her father passed away. At the time, she didn’t know that she would follow in his footsteps. 

Now, she takes great pride in each stride, marching for her father.

“It reminds me of them giving themselves, by giving their lives to the department,” Booker said. “Giving themselves to protect our community, to be a part of our community, so remembering them is honoring the things that they set before us.” 

It was a somber day for many families, but Patricia also was happy. Happy to see her granddaughter carrying on the family legacy. 

“Every time I see her in that uniform, I see her dad,” Patricia said.

Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said the importance of the police memorial ceremony and parade cannot be overstated. 

“This is a day that we commemorate the service and the sacrifice of not just the deputies and officers who have fallen, but their families who have given so much, so much to this uniform and what this uniform stands for,” McGuffey said. “Because it’s important to remember and we will always remember.”