Thursday local officers and their families honored those who have been killed in the line on duty.

This memorial ceremony is held in our area every year, but local officers say this year's was extremely special, because they remembered Chippewa County Deputy Jason Zunker.

Chippewa County Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk says every day law enforcement officers put public safety above their own.

And Lisa Zunker's husband did just that.

"Today we honor Jason not because how he died, but how he lived,” says Kowalczyk.

Chippewa County Deputy Jason Zunker lost his life in January when he was hit by a car while directing traffic during a semi fire on Highway 53.

"Everybody talks about how Jason's remembered by his smile, but I call it more of a smirk. He always had this cocky way about him and it was always so positive and full of energy,” says Chippewa County Deputy Sarah Larson.

"Jason was a young officer, a dedicated officer,” Kowalczyk says.

Zunker is now one of nearly 300 law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty in our state.

Zunker's name is inscribed in marble at the American Police Hall of Fame in Florida, as well as on the stone planter outside our state's capitol in Madison.

"It's a pleasure to have Jason represented regardless of where it is, if it's in Wisconsin, Eau Claire, or if it's in the state of Florida. We can't pay tribute enough to a situation where it involves the death of an officer,” Kowalczyk says.

Sheriff Kowalczyk presented Lisa Zunker with a few commemorative gifts and the sheriff's wife wrote and dedicated a poem to her.