InformIST: Houston Police Officers' Memorial

You've driven passed it a zillion times. You were probably in the midst of sipping a bit of your super chai metro coffee or applying some sort of eye make-up when you spotted the distinctive blue of the HPD cruiser parked out front. You slammed on your brakes in a last ditch attempt to stave off a ticket. Then you noticed that the police car was empty; no sirens were blaring after you. Your foot crushed the accelerator back to the floor. In your state of relative euphoria you didn't even notice the granite pyramid zoom past.

Houstonist has done it, too. In fact, we'd never visited the park during our extensive Houston tenure - not even when we lived across the street. We finally stopped by during an afternoon of geonerding geocaching Houston. It was then that we learned that the pyramid is the Houston Police Officers' Memorial and that the empty cruiser out front belongs to an HPD officer who volunteered to guard the site.

Various area foundations paid the $630,000 price tag for the memorial which was designed and installed by renowned Texan sculptor Jesus Moroles. The centerpiece of the site is the 12-and-a-half foot tall granite pyramid, which is surrounded by four inverted pyramids of the same design. Those who climb the peak can view a small reflection pool, the sides of which are inscribed with names of fallen police officers.

Next time you're haul assing to work, slow down and take a moment to reflect on the blurring landscape out the window. Police don't just pull you over for running red lights or speeding. They're here to protect and to serve. Sometimes they die doing so.

---
Photo: flickr user laanba.