The Kansas Highway Patrol invites the public to attend the 26th annual Kansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service at noon today. The ceremony will begin in the rotunda of the Capitol in Topeka and will conclude at the Kansas Law Enforcement Memorial on the Capitol grounds.

The memorial service will honor those who have died while protecting Kansans. This year, Macksville Police Officer Robert Timothy Buckman will be added to the list of 258 names of officers – in the state’s history – who have died while serving.

Buckman died while trying to warn residents of approaching tornadoes that occurred on May 4, 2007. His patrol vehicle was caught by a massive tornado and flung several hundred yards from the roadway on which he was traveling. Ten other officers will be honored.

Kansas Highway Patrol is joining Concerns of Police Survivors to observe National Police Week from Sunday to May 17. COPS is a national nonprofit organization for families of officers who died in the line of duty.