SCRANTON -- It's been a difficult year for members of the Scranton Police Department after losing an officer in the line of duty this summer, so a landscaping company decided to give the department a pick-me-up by sprucing up its police officers memorial.
The work going on outside Scranton Police Headquarters completes a vision its officers have long had, but the chief admits, is not in the city's police budget.
"It was kind of a wish list, but now it's coming true, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Dunbar," said Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano
Dunbar's Evergreen Landscaping is laying concrete for a new walkway that will surround the Scranton Police Officers Memorial. They're doing it all free of charge.
"Sometimes life is very busy for all of us and we take for granted what these men and women do for us on a daily basis, so we do appreciate all of the services that they provide for us," said George Dunbar.
Dunbar says their work should wrap up next week.
The walkway will include a brick inlay that members of the community can buy and have engraved.
"We encourage the public to come out and purchase a brick and have it engraved, perhaps supporting the police department," said Dunbar.
This isn't the first time the Scranton Police Memorial has been updated this year. Patrolman John Wilding's name was added in July after he died in the line of duty. Wilding's death is one of the reasons why this is being done now.
"None of us who are here, who are working currently, have been here for the death of an officer, certainly in the line of duty, so, this has a little bit of an extra-special meaning to us," said the police chief.
Chief Graziano says the spruced-up memorial will be more attractive for people who pass it. For the officers who report each day, it's a little bit of therapy.
"When things go bad, people come together and they support each other, and it's appreciated," Chief Graziano said.