This time last year, I began the creation of a Peace Officer Memorial sculpture for the city of Rancho Cordova.
This experience brought us very close to the reality of the sacrifices our police officers and first responders make on a daily basis.
Some give a little and some give it all in this battlefield of life.
Our men and women in uniform certainly fall into the latter category. Their oath to protect & serve is an oath they are willing to lay down their lives for and many often do.
I embarked on this journey of creating a Peace Officer Memorial nearly two years ago with my daughter Nicki Bennett. This memorial was to be dedicated to a young officer that was killed on a disturbance call at a local auto parts store three years ago. He was the first officer taken from the Rancho Cordova Police Department.
In working on ideas to honor his life I was struck by how often we forget the human being behind the badge. He had an adventurous spirit & loved to do many things outdoors in nature, which we represent in a bas relief on the front of the sculpture. He was also a newlywed, he was a husband, a son, a brother to many and a valuable part of his community. The symbols represent not only what he loved in his life but also what he lost.
Every detail on the memorial has meaning- The height of the main structure is 5’10 which is the same height as the officer. On top of the memorial is a perched eagle and on the back an American flag, both representing his love of country, freedom & liberty. In the center is a replica of his badge that was scanned & 3D printed, thanks to modern technology. On each upper flank of the sculpture we have the RCPD and Sacramento County Sheriff Patches.
Also on the back side of the sculpture is a Russian bible verse (John 15:13) reflecting his family & Russian heritage. Translated-
‘No one has a greater love than this; that he lay down his life for his friends’.
His name is Mark Stasyuk. A Deputy sheriff for Sacramento County and an officer of the Rancho Córdova Police Dept. Thank you for your service Mark. It was a great honor of my life to create this memorial to honor yours. May your spirit fly on eagles wings. May we always remember you made the ultimate sacrifice to uphold your oath to protect and serve.
I would like to thank Mark Foltz and Otto Construction for taking the lead on this project. Mark was able to pull together a team of contractors, lighting engineers, landscape architects and many more who generously gave their time and expertise to make this memorial a reality. As the saying goes, ‘it takes a village’ and we were blessed with a village of people that care deeply for others. A very special Thank You to my multi-talented daughter Nicki Bennett @nickibstudio for your talent & heart on this project. I am so happy we could share this meaningful experience together.