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Dallas Honors Fallen Officers; Two Names Added to Memorial
Summary
At the 2025 Dallas Police Memorial Ceremony at City Hall, Mayor Eric L. Johnson proclaimed May 6, 2025, as Police Memorial Day and Chief Daniel Como said the city added Officer Darren Burks and Officer Gabriel Bixby to the memorial. The ceremony included prayer, music, and a roll call of honor.
The Dallas Police Department held its 2025 Police Memorial Ceremony at Dallas City Hall, where officials honored officers who died in the line of duty and announced two new additions to the memorial.
Mayor Eric L. Johnson read a city proclamation declaring May 6, 2025, Police Memorial Day in Dallas and urged residents to observe National Police Week. "As long as I've been mayor of Dallas, public safety has been my highest priority," Johnson said, later noting that the city has reduced violent crime "four years in a row." The proclamation also said flags will be flown at half mast on city installations during the observance.
The ceremony included an invocation by Dallas Police Chaplain Andrew Paley, music by the Dallas Police Department Choir and remarks by Chief Daniel Como. Chaplain Paley prayed for the families and colleagues of the fallen, asking that "their memory be for a blessing" and that the city find strength and courage to carry forward the officers' legacy.
Chief Daniel Como said the department has added two names to the memorial since last year's ceremony. "On 08/29/2024, Officer Darren Burks ... was shot while sitting in a patrol car, ultimately succumbing to his injuries. On 01/07/2025, Police Officer Gabriel Bixby ... died in a motorcycle accident while on his way to work," Como said. He also described a commemorative step the city is taking: placing a street topper in the intersection where each officer gave their life so their names are permanently marked.
Officers Gabriel Ortiz and Danny Vasquez conducted a roll call of honor, reading the names and dates of service and death for 95 officers memorialized by the city, concluding the list with the new entries for Burks and Bixby. Attendees were invited to rise when their loved one's name was called.
The program described traditional elements of a full police honor service — presentation of colors, a three‑round rifle volley, playing of taps, folding and presentation of the U.S. flag, and the playing of "Amazing Grace" — and directed family members to a survivor's luncheon at the Dallas Police Association after the ceremony. The event concluded with a moment of silence and the dismissal of the detail.
No formal votes or policy decisions were taken during the ceremony. The proclamation and remarks reflect the city's ceremonial observance; details such as the mayor's cited crime statistics were presented as remarks and were not accompanied by supporting documents at the event.
