MIAMI, Fla. — With reverence and respect, dozens of Miami Police Department officers paused Tuesday to pay tribute to every fallen hero of the agency.

Forty-two MPD officers have died in the line of duty.

“We go to all the gravesites of the officers that have been killed in the line of duty and we present them with an American flag and a ‘thin blue line’ flag,” MPD Chief Manny Morales said.

The flags will be placed at the grave sites across Miami-Dade ahead of National Police Week in May. It’s part of the agency’s annual commitment called “Project Hero.”

Morales was somber as stories were shared about their valiant efforts to protect the public, remembering their last day on duty with prayer, including Miami Police Officer Victor Estefan, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in 1988. He served with MPD for 21 years.

”Many officers go out each and every day to serve and protect. They put on the uniform, they put on the badge,” MPD Officer Kiara Delva said. “And their main goal is to ensure that they are protecting the community. And they do so with a very brave heart and soul. And that’s ultimately what today is about. We go out, we honor them, we remember them and their sacrifice.”

Morales called it “a very loud signal that we’ll never forget the sacrifice made by the members of the Miami Police.”

It’s only the beginning of a month of ceremonies and event that MPD and law enforcement agencies across the country will have to honor their fallen heroes.

MPD plans on having a larger ceremony including the families of families of fallen officers in early May.

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