Douglas County, Colorado – The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office solemnly commemorated National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the brave souls who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. These courageous individuals exemplified valor, dedication, and selflessness in their service to the community. We were honored to have the Pollack family, as well as the daughter of Ron King, in attendance. Video of Memorial
Standing outside the courthouse, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Memorial stands as a poignant reminder of the dedication and valor exhibited by law enforcement officers. Engraved on this memorial are the names of four deputies who made the ultimate sacrifice:
- Sergeant Wayne Bryant, End of Watch (EOW) March 2, 1978
- Deputy Ron King, End of Watch (EOW) May 21, 1999
- Deputy Zack Parrish, End of Watch (EOW) December 31, 2017
- Detective Joe Pollack, End of Watch (EOW) December 9, 2021
“Every name etched into this memorial represents more than just a badge number or a uniform. They represent individuals who answered the call to serve, who embraced the responsibility of safeguarding our streets, and who made the ultimate sacrifice so that others may live in peace,” said Undersheriff David Walcher. “It’s often said that law enforcement is a calling, a vocation that demands courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication. And those we remember today exemplified these virtues in the most profound ways. They walked into danger without hesitation, they confronted adversity with resilience, and they embodied the true meaning of service above self. But let us also remember that behind every badge, there is a human being—a son, a daughter, a spouse, a parent—a person who laughed, loved, and dreamed. Today, we not only honor their service but also celebrate their lives and the impact they had on all who knew them.”
WAYNE BRYANT – EOW MARCH 2, 1978
Wayne Bryant first started his career with the Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Royal McKinster in 1972, as a “Special Deputy.” This group of deputies were touted as an “elite force” that began with a 150-man contingent of trained volunteers.
He became a full-time deputy with the Office in 1977 and was almost immediately given the rank of patrol sergeant. Wayne was 45 years old when he died of a heart attack on duty. He and his wife had three children at the time of his passing.
RONALD M. KING – EOW MAY 21, 1999
Ron King was born December 17, 1956, in Ruston, Louisiana. He grew up in Rangely, Colorado and began his law enforcement career with the Meeker Police Department. From there, he served as a Deputy Sheriff with the Routt County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Colorado State Patrol as a Trooper. In 1989, he was sworn in as a Deputy with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Ron worked in patrol, community relations, D.A.R.E. and traffic enforcement during his 9 years with Douglas County.
On the afternoon of May 21, 1999, Deputy King and his partner, Deputy Chris Washburn, were on motorcycle patrol on southbound U.S. Highway 85 near Louviers CO when a northbound van turned left into the Deputies’ path, colliding with their motorcycles. The van was driven by a male party who had just come from a bar in Sedalia and was attempting to turn into the parking lot of another bar. Deputy King died of his injuries while en-route to a hospital. Deputy Washburn, who was seriously injured in the crash, underwent numerous surgeries, but miraculously returned to full duty within a few months.
Deputy King loved working with the youth of Douglas County. He was commitment to youth safety programs during his assignment as a community relations officer along with his devotion to the D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T. programs. Deputy King also worked tirelessly with his commitment to improving traffic safety as a Motorcycle Officer with the hallmarks of his career. In honor of Deputy King’s commitment to young people, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office commissioned the Ronald M. King Community Service Awards, which each year will recognize a community member and a sheriff’s office employee who have demonstrated exemplary public service in areas related to youth. Ron was also an anchor to his family. He was a devoted father to four girls and was a wonderful companion for the love of his life, Marleen Brack.
ZACKARI (ZACK) SPURLOCK PARRISH III – EOW DECEMBER 31, 2017
On February 21st, 1988, Zackari (Zack) Spurlock Parrish III was born to Zack Jr. and Cris Parrish in Nashville, Tenn. Upon graduating High School, Zack attended Dallas Baptist University and graduated in August 2009 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication. Shortly after graduating, Zack married the love of his life, Gracie Moehlenpah (Parrish) in Denver, Colorado. After spending four years working in Corporate America as a Business Banker at various banks, Zack decided to follow his dream and become a Police Officer. He enrolled in the Academy and continued working full-time at the bank. Upon graduating the Academy, Zack continued working full-time at the bank and took a part-time position as a Reserve Officer with Morrison PD. In December of 2014, Zack accepted a full-time Law Enforcement Officer position with Castle Rock Police Department and was sworn into the department January 2015.
Once Zack started with Castle Rock PD, he immediately demonstrated his hard work and dedication to the job, all the time committed to his strong moral compass. Zack’s productivity at CRPD was impressive, leading the entire agency in arrests and citizen contacts each year. Zack’s efforts to always be the leader and to be first at everything he was involved in with his patrol team, he quickly earned the nickname “Zippy”. Zack never wavered in pushing himself to be the best. His personal dedication to personal fitness, marksmanship and all the technical aspects of his job was second to none. Zack’s passion for life was not limited to just a “working relationship” with his peers, but he strived to develop and maintain a personal friendship with his fellow Castle Rock officers – friends to all, bridging gaps between all officers and starting a culture of friendship which endures to this day.
After spending two years with Castle Rock PD, Zack started with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on June 5th 2017, bringing with him the same zeal for life and the same drive and determination he had with Castle Rock. Zack immediately made an impact with his co-workers, challenging each of his peers to be the best they can be. These challenges led to friendly bantering, but ultimately forged relationships and memories that would remain today when we speak of Zack. We will never forget Zack, the family man, Zack, the Deputy Sheriff or Zack – the person who truly cared about who he worked with and the citizens and community he was sworn to protect.
Unfortunately, Zack’s life ended tragically the morning of December 31st, 2017, in the line of duty. He leaves behind his wife, Gracie, of 8.5 years and their two daughters – his pride and joy – Caroline, age 4.5 and Everly, age 18mo at the time of his death.
JOE POLLACK – EOW DECEMBER 9, 2021
Detective Joe Pollack was born in 1957 and passed away in 2021 from complications due to COVID, which he contracted while in the line of duty. Joe spent 20 years with the NYPD before retiring as a sergeant. He was on his way to Colorado with his family when the 911 terrorist attack happened. He dropped his family off in Colorado and drove back to New York to work alongside his brothers and sisters in blue, digging through the rubble of the World Trade Center towers looking for fallen comrades and civilians.
He finally made it back to Colorado and joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2002. He spent most of his 19 years with us in the Investigations Division. He had a knack for surveillance and always seemed to show up on a scene right when he was needed. Joe played a key role in the trial against the STEM School shooters, testifying as one of the responding officers that tragic day. He is survived by his wife and three children
As we pay tribute to these courageous individuals, we extend our deepest gratitude to all law enforcement officers who have served our community with unwavering dedication. Their commitment to upholding the law and protecting our citizens is a testament to their selflessness and bravery. Thank you to all who have served and continue to serve with valor and dedication.