In the Line of Duty, (sculpture).

In the Line of Duty, (sculpture).

Riesau, Victor D., sculptor.

In the Line of Duty, (sculpture).

California Peace Officers Memorial, (sculpture).

1987. Dedicated May 17, 1988.

Digital Reference:

Relief, figures and plaques: bronze; Relief base, benches and planter: stone.

Policeman's relief: approx. 106 in. x 13 ft. x 26 in.; Planter: approx: H. 30 in. x Diam. 14 ft.; Mother & child: approx. 4 x 3 x 3 ft.

(On front, proper left of main sculpture, at foot of municipal police officer:) VIC RIESAU '87 (On plaque on front of base, right:) SINCE STATEHOOD, THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA HAVE/SOUGHT AND CHERISHED A QUALITY OF LIFE UNSURPASSED/IN THIS GREAT NATION. THERE HAVE BEEN AMONG US/THOSE WHO CHOSE TO SERVE AS PEACE OFFICERS AND/WHEN CALLED UPON UNSELFISHLY GAVE MORE THAN WE/HAD A RIGHT TO ASK. A PASSIONATE DESIRE AMONG CALIFORNIANS TO COMMEMORATE THOSE FALLEN HEROES IS/EVIDENCED HERE. THIS MOVING MEMORIAL IS A TRIBUTE TO/THE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CALIFORNIA/LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES/TO ASSURE A PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY SOCIETY FOR THEIR/FELLOW CITIZENS. THOSE BRAVE AND GALLANT PROTECTORS/WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE LINE OF DUTY/ARE SYMBOLICALLY REPRESENTED HERE BY THE COUNTY/SHERIFF OF THE 1880'S, THE STATE MOTORCYLE OFFICER OF/THE 1930'S AND THE MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICER OF THE/1980'S./IN OUR HEARS WE HONOR THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES - FOR WE CAN DO NO LESS.

(Plaque on center of base:) I NEVER DREAMED IT WOULD BE ME,/MY NAME FOR ALL ETERNITY,/RECORDED HERE AT THIS HALLOWED PLACE,/ALAS MY NAME, NO MORE MY FACE./"IN THE LINE OF DUTY," I HEAR THEM SAY;/MY FAMILY NOW THE PRICE WILL PAY./MY FOLDED FLAG STAINED WITH THEIR TEARS;/WE ONLY HAD THOSE FEW SHORT YEARS./THE BADGE NO LONGER ON MY CHEST,/I SLEEP NOW IN ETERNAL REST/MY SWORD I PASS TO THOSE BEHIND,/AND PRAY THEY KEEP THIS THOUGHT IN MIND./I NEVER DREAMED IT WOULD BE ME,/AND WITH HEAVY HEART AND BENDED KNEE;/I ASK FOR ALL HERE FROM THE PAST,/DEAR GOD, LET MY NAME BE THE LAST./SGT. GEORGE HAHN, LAPD RET. signed

A multi-part sculpture, which includes a relief of three police officers, a circular planter with bronze plaques, and a seated woman and child. The policeman's relief depicts three male figures, all standing. It includes a representation of a county sheriff of the 1880s, a state motorcycle officer of the 1930s, and a municipal officer of the 1980s. In front of the relief, is a circular stone flower planter, a "circle of honor", with bronze plaques bearing the names of officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty from 1988 on. Facing the planter and relief is a life-size bronze statue of a mother comforting her child, a young girl. They sit on a stone bench, one of 5 encircling the monument.

Occupation -- Service -- Policeman

Figure group -- Family -- Mother & Child

State of Being -- Other -- Widow

Dress -- Uniform -- Police Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- Sacramento

Administered by State of California, Building and Grounds, 1300 L Street, Sacramento, California 95814

Located Library and Courts Building, 10th Street and Capitol Mall, southwest corner, Sacramento, California

The memorial cost $200,000 and was paid for by private donations. IAS files contain a related article from Sacramento Union (Sacramento, CA), May 18, 1988, pg. A3, which discusses the fundraising and dedication ceremony for the memorial. Victor D. Riesau is a retired chief of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (1977). The sculpture commemorates 900 killed since the state's frontier days.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, California, Sacramento survey, 1992.

Sacramento Union (Sacramento, CA), May 18, 1988, pg. A3.

Sacramento Union (Sacramento, CA), May 18, 1988, pg. A3.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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