A Newtown police officer who lost his life was honored at the nation's capital.

The annual candlelight vigil in Washington, D.C. for National Police Week was a virtual Wednesday due to the pandemic.

The Newtown Police Department watched online as one of its former officers, Stephen Ketchum, was remembered.

Ketchum, 48, was born and raised in Bridgewater and spent 25 years with the Newtown Police Department. His badge number, 15, is still proudly displayed on the department motorcycle he used to ride.

He served Bridgewater as a volunteer firefighter and ambulance driver for a number of years.

Ketchum was also among those who responded to ground zero after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He later got lung cancer from his response efforts there and died in 2016.

Ketchum is the only Newtown officer on the national memorial. His name is one of 370 added this year to the National Police Officers Memorial, which pays tribute to officers killed in the line of duty.

Ketchum's former partner, who worked traffic with him, says he was a motorcycle officer and firearms instructor, as well as a fire marshal before getting sick. Ketchum retired from the police force in 2014.

"He exemplified what it is to be a true law enforcement official, showed a lot of compassion and everything," says Sgt. Jeff Silver.

Ketchum's name was also added to the Connecticut Police Memorial in Meridan shortly after his death.

"He would always want to get out of the limelight, stand off to the side; so he’d think it all would be a little too much but, it’s well deserved," Silver says.