Late Friday night, a shock wave emanating from a Millard County courtroom rocked the law enforcement community across this nation. Roberto Roman, who had confessed to murdering Sheriff Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox, was found “Not Guilty.” On Sunday morning thousands of bikers, police and families gathered for the 6th Annual Ride for Fallen Officers from Timpanogos Harley in Lindon to the Utah State Capitol Building. Speaking at the Peace Officer Memorial, I thanked them for their support then began, “I’m going to say one thing that is on all of our hearts right now. There is no justice when a cop killer walks free.” I then explained my meaning in the context of this extraordinary fundraiser for the families of Utah’s Fallen.

Let me be clear, since a Salt Lake Tribune editorial took my comments out of context and failed to say one word in support of the great men and women in law enforcement or the ultimate sacrifice of Deputy Fox.  I declared that despite an imperfect justice system, it is the best that exists in the world today. I then juxtaposed what the family, law enforcement and I believe to be a wrong verdict, with the fact that despite the hurt and offense at an apparent injustice, nevertheless, the next morning police officers kissed their families goodbye, pinned on their badges, and went to work to protect and serve us despite the very real possibility they would not return home at the end of their shifts. This true justice demonstrated by police every day, was multiplied by those who came out to support them, the fallen, and surviving family members.

Plato said “justice will only exist where those not affected by injustice are filled with the same amount of indignation as those offended.”  What I hoped would be heard and felt over the loud roar of a seven-mile long motorcycle procession was the pain of family members and a brotherhood shaken by an overt act of sacrifice and service.    I also hoped those who were concerned about the Roberto Roman verdict would follow the example of law enforcement and go out of their way to be more kind, law abiding and willing to look out for everyone in their communities.

The great Roman statesman, Marcus Tullius Cicero described the second of his four Virtues of a Moral Society. “Justice,” he declared is "the principle by which society and what we may call its 'common bonds' are maintained."  Peaceful, successful communities prosper, Cicero taught, only when each member acting in “good faith” fulfills his social duty to exhibit a generous nature in good deeds of sacrifice and service and in respecting and actively protecting the rights of others.

Seventeen police officers have been killed in the line of duty since I became attorney general. I have attended either the funeral of each officer, or the placement of their name on the wall of the Memorial. I have committed to memory their lives, their service and the manner of their ultimate sacrifice when they gave their all for us. I honor them, their families who shared them with us, and those who continue to serve. On Sunday I told a little about each officer with the faithful gathered on the lawn West of the Capitol. I began with Roosevelt Police Chief Cecil Gurr who was gunned down in a convenience store parking lot in July of 2001.  A crazed drug addict was holding a female hostage when Chief Gurr heroically diverted his attention by yelling his name.  I finished with UHP Trooper Aaron Beasley, who in June lost his life rescuing teenage hikers on Mt. Olympus. I invite the readers of UPD to go to www.utahsfallen.org and learn about all of the fallen officers whose names appear on the wall; then recommit, despite injustices perceived or real, to do more each day to do good and give back.