BATON ROUGE – A memorial service to honor law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty was held on Tuesday. 

East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said the service was a reminder that this year was one of the hardest years for him in law enforcement.

.@EBRSheriff: "this is the hardest police memorial I've ever attended" @WBRZ pic.twitter.com/M1y6mbdWwa

— Natalia Verdina (@nataliaverdina) May 9, 2017

"In my 42 years in law enforcement I've never lost any officer or deputy to an act of violence and to lose one is one two many but to lose one last summer and to lose Shawn this March that coupled the fact all this pain and suffering this community has gone through. It has been the hardest year for me," Gautreaux said.

Gautreaux said that the service means a lot to law enforcement officers as well as their families.

"It's not how they died that makes them the hero, it's how they lived their lives and that's what we're here to do today. We're here to honor their lives and their memories," BRPD Chief Carl Dabadie said.

White roses were given to the families of the fallen officers and Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said it is important for the community to support to families of law enforcement. 

The services are sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police, Baton Rouge Lodge #1.

The service was held on Tuesday, May 9 at 10 a.m. at Central Baptist Church located at 17017 Florida Boulevard.