Fellow Arlington police officers jokingly called Craig Story "the machine."

"He did not let heat, cold, thirst or hunger get in the way of his job," said his wife, Danielle Story. "He was a cop, and he loved it."

Officer Story was chasing a speeding vehicle on Jan. 13, 2010 when his motorcycle collided with a school bus. He died at the scene, leaving behind his wife, one son and another on the way.

On Tuesday evening, Story's family gathered to remember him, like they do every year, at the Arlington Police Department's "Remembrance of Fallen Officers" at Heroes Park. The event was part of National Police Week.

Danielle Story said the ceremony helps bring a small measure of peace to her family.

"This is so therapeutic and so necessary. It really is part of the healing process," she said. "We can never bring them back or change what happened, but this a way to share our love."

Eight Arlington police officers have been killed in the line of duty. Police Chief Will Johnson said the entire city is thankful for the officers' service.

"They stood for the helpless, those who would not have a voice and did not have power. They stood for decency and what is right," Johnson said. "They stood for this community and for our hometown of Arlington, Texas."

The ceremony included a moment of silence, presentation of wreaths and a 21-gun salute by the Arlington Police Honor Guard. Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck read a proclamation, and reserve Officer Ray Hosack played Taps on the bagpipes.

As the name of each officer was called, the families stood.

Jeri Crocker, daughter of Officer Jerry Crocker, who died Oct. 9, 1992, attends the remembrance every year.

"He has not been forgotten," she said of her father.

By day, Jerry Crocker worked as a civil engineer. But on Friday and Saturday nights, he donned the police officer uniform and became a reserve officer for Arlington. He had attended the police academy while working full time because he felt called to police work, said his wife, Erin Crocker.

Crocker and Officer Terry Lewis were killed at the end of a Friday night shift when a drunk driver struck their patrol car. Between the two, they left behind six daughters.

"We immediately inherited an entire family, the Arlington Police Department," Erin Crocker said. "Still, not a day goes by when someone doesn't check in with us."

Fallen Arlington officers are:

James Evan Johnson, died Nov. 23, 1930

Gary Dwaine Harl, died July 16, 1975

Terry Lynn Lewis, died Oct. 9, 1992

Jerry J. Crocker, died Oct. 9, 1992

Craig Michael Hanking, died Aug. 3, 1994

Joseph Thomas Cushman, died June 7, 2001

Craig Gordon Story, died Jan. 13, 2010

Jillian Michelle Smith, died Dec. 28, 2010