As the 29th annual Law Enforcement Memorial Run neared its downtown finish line, participants paused in Hyattsville on Wednesday to pay tribute to Prince George’s County’s fallen officers.
More than 100 runners, part of the 150-mile journey that began Monday in Philadelphia, gathered at the courthouse for a brief ceremony. The event opened with a prayer, followed by remarks from Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz.
“We made a solemn promise long ago — from the time of our first fallen officer — that we would never forget,” Aziz said. “Your presence here today is a powerful reminder of that commitment.”
Since 1946, when Officer Edward Merson was killed in Beltsville, the department has lost 30 officers in the line of duty. The most recent was Sgt. Mujahid Ramzziddin, who was fatally shot in 2018 while off duty, trying to protect a neighbor during a domestic violence incident. He left behind a wife and four children.
“We are here to honor their memory,” Aziz said. “Their names aren’t just carved into a wall — they live in our hearts. That flame will never die.”
Members of the current police academy class also took part in the run. Before continuing on toward Washington, D.C. via Route 1, Chief Aziz offered a final message: “Never stop standing. Never stop remembering. I love you guys.”
