A fallen hero was honored Thursday as Dennis Simmonds' name was added to the Boston Police Department's memorial wall.
Simmonds had only been a Boston Police officer for just over five years, but he left behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.
The officer was just 28 when he died in April of 2014, a year after he suffered head injuries in the Watertown shootout with the Boston Marathon bombers.
Since then, his family had been fighting to make sure his death was given proper acknowledgment: as a line-of-duty death.
"This brings a lot of peace to us," said Nicole Simmonds, the officer's sister. "My brother deserved this recognition."
Simmonds' name is the 78th to be added to the wall - a memorial to every Boston Police officer who has been killed in the line of duty.
"The people on the wall behind me are all heroes," said Mayor Marty Walsh.
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Family and friends knew Dennis as "DJ." He grew up in Randolph, but knew at the age of 4 that he wanted to be a Boston Police officer.
"All he ever wanted to be was a police officer," said Boston Police Commissioner William Evans. "All he ever wanted to do was help people. And he really made his mark."
Simmonds' family has also set up a scholarship fund at Lasell College, where he graduated in 2008. Their hope is that fund will help other students reach their goals, just as Simmonds did.
