COVINGTON, Ky. -- Law enforcement officers and family members gathered early Thursday morning to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the death of a Covington officer who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Officer Michael Partin fell off the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge in 1998 while running after a DUI suspect. He leapt over a barrier and fell through a gap between the bridge and walkway and tumbled into the Ohio River far below. His body wasn't found until five months later.
From The Vault: Police Officer Mike Partin dies in fall off Ohio River bridge
Watch our vault footage on Partin's death in the video player below.
Officers have gathered every Jan. 4 since Partin's death to recognize his contributions to the Tri-State. They gathered on the bridge at 1 a.m. Thursday before heading to East Third Street and Court Avenue to place candles before the Covington police memorial alongside Partin's daughter.
"It's very important to us and the family," said Covington Officer Mark Richardson. "It's why we're all out here in the cold weather paying our respects, because the sacrifices that officers make every day is what allows us to do what we do as officers and just general citizens give us the right to live our lives the way we do."
