Springfield Police Officer Christopher Walsh, who died a year ago on March 16, 2020, was honored today during a ceremony outside the Springfield Police station.
Officer Walsh’s name was engraved on a memorial monument that was donated in 1995 and features the names of 10 other officers who died in the line of duty.
Officer Walsh was killed while responding to an active shooter call at a Springfield Kum and Go. Three people, Troy Rapp, Shannon Perkins, and Matthew Hicks-Morris were also killed. Two others, including Springfield Police Officer Josiah Overton, were severely injured.
Police Chief Paul Williams commented, “On March 16, 2020, the Springfield Police Department, the Springfield community, and the Walsh family suffered a loss that has created a hole in our hearts that cannot be filled. … We are here today to remember and recognize the sacrifice of Officer Christopher Ryan Walsh by engraving his name on our memorial to secure his memory for all time.”
Officer Walsh served with the Springfield Police Department for three and a half years and was assigned as a patrol officer after graduating with the 68th Academy. He was also an Army veteran, active in the US Army Reserves for 10 years. He is survived by his wife, Sheri, and his daughter, Morgan.
The full recording of the unveiling ceremony can be viewed online here: https://vimeo.com/524493985
