The police headquarters' memorial to fallen police officers was given a 21st-century upgrade last week, thanks to cable company Comcast.

Surrounded by the families and friends of Philadelphia police officers who died in the line of duty, Mayor Michael Nutter, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey and members of the police force unveiled the new interactive memorial during an Oct. 15 ceremony in the lobby of the Comcast Center at 1701 JFK Blvd.

The memorial is intended to update and replace the current memorial in the lobby of Police Headquarters, at Eighth and Race streets.

Currently, the memorial is little more than a collection of photos and memorabilia that dates back to 1954, but the history of sacrifice in the department dates further back than that.

During the unveiling of the new memorial, Comcast's executive vice president, David L. Cohen, called the current memorial "fairly old school," and said the new interactive memorial would include more information than is currently available.

"We want to pay appropriate tribute to (fallen officers) and their families," he said. "We've been working to develop a more 21st century memorial that honors all of the police officers killed in the line of duty. Each of these fallen heroes is a person ... Each has a story."

PLENTY OF INFORMATION

The interactive memorial, entitled "Their Sacrifice, Our History," consists of a 42-inch touch-screen monitor that has been installed into a memorial kiosk. The kiosk itself features a number of smaller monitors as well. Each of these smaller monitors, set near the top of the display, hosts a revolving collection of photos of Philadelphia police officers taken throughout the history of the department.

Since 1828, the Philadelphia Police force has lost 266 officers in the line of duty.

The interactive memorial features the stories and photos of all of these officers, going all the way back to watchman Steve Heimer, the city's first officer on record to have died while on duty.

According to police records, Heimer died on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 1828, after he was shot while attempting to quell a riot at the intersection of Third and George streets.

"All in all, I think we have, for the first time in this city, an appropriate tribute to the officers who gave the ultimate ... their all," Cohen said in preparing to unveil the interactive memorial.

Ramsey said the new memorial would be a welcome addition to the police headquarters building because the current memorial wall doesn't do justice to all the officers who died in service to the city.

Ramsey said that since the headquarters' memorial wall only dates back to 1954, a number of honorable officers have unfortunately been left out.

"Sacrifice in this department has gone on a lot longer than 1954," said Ramsey. "We all felt that we had to take the time out and do this right. It's something that it was high time to do."

Stepping to a podium set up near the memorial kiosk, Nutter told those in attendance how the interactive tribute will provide visitors with access to the stories of the men and women who gave their lives in service to the city.

A TRIBUTE TO THE FALLEN

The memorial will become a valuable tool, said the mayor, thanks to research that helps ensure the stories of Philadelphia's fallen officers are told.

"What an incredible tribute to our police officers," said Nutter. "I appreciate the sense of history, the research and respect that went into this. This is an astounding achievement for Philadelphia."

In addition to the creation of a memorial - now located in the lobby of police headquarters - Comcast has also created a Web site - www.phillyheroes.org - where all of the information from the interactive kiosk is also available.

Here, there are pictures and full biographies of the city's fallen officers.

Nutter said that both elements of the memorial - the digital memorial and the Web site - were lasting, respectful tributes to the men and women in blue.

"(Officers' deaths) have been very hard on the police force and their families," Nutter told the gathered relatives of fallen officers, "but this is a very strong city."

In a tender moment, Nutter told the gathered families that he hopes the memorial will be a respectful gesture that remembers the sacrifice made by all police officers.

MAYOR: WE LOVE YOU

Nutter said that through this and similar memorial efforts, he wanted the families of the fallen officers to know "we love you, we respect you ... we will never forget you."

After the memorial kiosk was unveiled, family members gathered near the interactive touch screen to find their friends and loved ones in the memorial's database.

After checking out the memorial, Terry Simpson, an officer in the Philadelphia Police's SWAT unit and brother of fallen officer Sgt. Timothy Simpson, said he appreciated the memorial.

Simpson, 50, has served with the police for more than 20 years. His brother served just as long and the two men worked together on the force for some time.

His younger brother, Sgt. Simpson, died tragically last Nov. 17, after a drunken driver struck his police cruiser at the intersection of Aramingo and Allegheny avenues. He was just 46 at the time of his death.

In talking about his brother and their time together on the force, Simpson said he appreciated the new memorial.

It will be something that would allow families and friends to remember their fallen loved ones and would allow others to learn their stories, he said.

"I think this is just great," said Simpson. "This is great, I mean, it seems like a lasting tribute for officers everywhere. I hope it's around a lot longer than I am." **

Reporter Hayden Mitman can be reached at 215-354-3124 or hmitman@phillynews.com