Michigan’s fallen police, fire and other first responder heroes remembered

Kailey Hill can’t talk about her dad without tears. Ricky Hill Jr., a paramedic firefighter, died at the scene of a Feb. 25, 2023, Flint fire after suffering a heart emergency, she said. He was 49.

On Wednesday, she spoke to more than 100 attendees at the annual Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial ceremony in Pontiac. The memorial is just outside the Oakland County Sheriff’s office and drew police officers, firefighters and family members from around the state.

Sheriff Michael Bouchard said the memorial was “especially bitter” this year, because one of the names being added to the long wall is Deputy Brad Reckling, 30, shot dead on June 22 in Detroit while investigating a stolen vehicle. He left three children and his wife, pregnant with their fourth.

First responders give their time and sometimes their lives to protect strangers, Bouchard said.

“I pray that we never add another name to that wall,” he said, adding that he knows that will not be true.

Sheriff Michael Bouchard and Deputy Nate Rogers embrace at the 2024 Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 11 as emcee and WDIV news anchor Jason Colthorp looks on. (Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)

Fellow deputy and family friend Nate Rogers spoke for the Recklings, recalling that he and Brad started their careers together working at the county jail, then worked road patrol jobs before advancing to investigative work. He said Reckling loved his wife and children above all else.

“There’s a huge hole in the hearts of many people,” Rogers said. “Brad loved his job but didn’t let it define him. None of this is fair, not for any of us.”

Hill, 20, was surprised by the invitation to speak at the ceremony but glad to use her time to offer condolences to those grieving a loss and urge them to remember the good days over the single terrible day that changed their lives.

She shared stories about her dad’s goofiness, how he entertained her, brother Ethan and fellow firefighters with his innate ability to quickly learn any instrument he picked up, getting people to join in on songs. He loved skateboarding, pinball games and telling jokes, she said.

Kailey Hill makes an etching of her late father’s name, Flint paramedic-firefighter Ricky Hill Jr. at the Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)

She urged people to “deeply feel the joy they brought you then and try to feel it now. Try to make every day a good day. Spend it with the people you love doing the things you love to do,” she said. “Hug your people. Text them. Tell them you love them so that when the bad dates come, they won’t hurt as bad because of the good dates.”

After her dad’s death, she changed her college major from business to graphic design because he had encouraged her to explore her creative side.

Kailey Hill makes an etching of her late father’s name, Flint paramedic-firefighter Ricky Hill Jr. at the Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial as her mom Angie Jackson looks on. Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)

Like Hill, Melvindale Police Cpl. Mohamed Hacham couldn’t escape tears. He talked about the shooting death of his friend and colleague, Cpl. Mohamed Said on July 21. Hacham, in his first year as a police officer, said he’d come to work an hour early that day and was on the road when Said, 26, called for backup.

“I didn’t expect this so early in my career,” Hacham said, calling Said a buddy and “like a little brother to me … He was a person of joy. He wanted peace for this country and peace for his city.”

Hacham broke down before saying, “We are one big family. Look to the person next to you and tell them, ‘I love you.’”

People did.

Sarah Butler also spoke. Her husband, Hillsdale Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Butler, was shot and killed on June 27. He was 51. She called him a remarkable man, a compassionate husband and loving father to his children.

“While he’s gone from us,” she said, her voice breaking, “he will never be forgotten.”

Many of the 2024 Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial ceremony looked for loved ones’ names. (Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)

Bloomfield Hills resident Rhonda Angelo attended the event for the first time. She had never heard of the ceremony or the memorial until learning her neighbor Jennifer DeMello-Johnson, would be singing “The Star Spangled Banner.”

“It was very emotional. I remember hearing about each of these people who passed,” she said. “It was very, very emotional, very beautiful.”

She plans to bring her husband and grandchildren to visit the memorial in the near future.

Amanda Ford, the sheriff’s office community liaison who plans this event each year, said one of the benefits of the memorial is bringing grieving families together.

The Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial is at 1200 North Telegraph, Building 38E in Pontiac and includes a 9/11 memorial as well as the Fallen Heroes installation and the Military Fallen Heroes Memorial honoring Oakland County residents who died while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The memorial is open for visitors at any time. Learn more at www.michiganfallenheroes.com.

Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies stand at attention during the 2024 Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial on Sept. 11. (Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)Oakland County Sheriff’s Honor Guard fires a 21-gun salute during the 2024 Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 11. (Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)Sheriff Michael Bouchard, Oakland County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark Keast and Prosecutor Karen McDonald at the 2024 Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial on Wednesday, Sept. 11. (Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Richardson with his K9, ECo, named in memory of Deputy Eric Overall and Wayne State University K9 Police Officer Colin Rose. (Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)Sheriff’s deputies salute during the 2024 Michigan Fallen Heroes memorial ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 11. (Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)Dan and Arlene O’Rourke, whose son, West Bloomfield Police Sgt. Patrick O’Rourke was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 9, 2012, greet Amanda Ford, who organizes the annual Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial ceremony, on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)Warren resident Lauren Hill and Flint resident Kailey Hill greet a friend during the 2024 Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial ceremony on Sept. 11. The women are not related but each of their fathers died in the line of duty. (Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Kelsey Brown plays “Taps” during the 2024 Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)