Tag: nleom

National Peace Officers Memorial Day

May 15th is National Peace Officers Memorial Day, part of National Police Week. Throughout this week we take time to honor those men and women who have lost their lives in the line of duty. An estimated 20,000 officers, family and survivors will attend the candlelight vigil and ceremonies this week at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Many more will honor their fallen in personal ceremonies all around the country.

Established by a joint Congressional resolution in 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week that it falls as National Police Week. Dedicated in 1991, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. consists of two 304-foot blue-gray marble walls with the names of 21,183 federal, state and local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Beginning with Sheriff Cornelius Hogeboom, the first known officer’s death in 1791 through today, new names are added to the memorial each spring.

During the past 10 years, an average of 151 officers have been killed in the line of duty, a rate of about one every 63 hours. As of May 14th, 2017, 49 officers had lost their lives this year, as compared to 36 in the same time in 2016.

Where most people’s natural, and justifiable instinct is to run from the sound of gunfire, the law enforcement officer’s job is to run towards it. Where others seek shelter, the officer goes out to put an end to the danger. Where there is no one else to help, the officer is always there.

Those who enter this profession do so for a variety of reasons, but all commit to the difficult job of serving their community. They work shifts around the clock, in all weather conditions, in all situations; dealing with the worst our society has to offer, with ever-increasing public and media scrutiny, where their life is literally on the line every single day. Overwhelmingly, they do so with pride, integrity and honor.

Many current and former officers like myself know one or more of the names engraved on those memorial walls. We remember them not only for their service and sacrifice, but for the individuals they were. They were our friends and family. They were children, spouses, parents and grandparents themselves. They were the smile, the helping hand and the kind word when it was needed the most. They were much more than someone wearing a badge; they were a part of our lives.

This week we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of safety, protection and justice of others. We also pray for those who continue to live a life of service in their communities, and thank them for their ongoing commitment.

You can learn more about the Memorial and ceremonies this week at the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund at: http://www.nleomf.org.

Bob

#oddstuffing, #nleomf, #nationalpeaceofficersmemorial, #nationalpoliceweek, #bluelivesmatter, #mewe, #medium, #instagram, #oddstuffing.com

The Thin Blue Line

The thin blue line on a field of black represents the police who separate the public from anarchy, the citizens from criminals, the good from bad. The line is thin since they are very few in numbers; always too few.

The men and women who wear the badge come from every corner of the community, all kinds of families, all faiths and all shapes and sizes. Yes, some even love donuts. The reasons they choose this life of service are as varied as they are, but the have chosen this life willingly and with full understanding of what it involves.

To serve as a law enforcement officer means putting yourself in harms way. Where others run from danger, the officers must pursue it. They will train in the law, in forensics and investigative technique. They must know how to compassionately deal with the mentally ill, the sick and injured, the disturbed and the impaired. They will see the darkest sides of the worst the world has to offer, as well as those who are viewed as doing no wrong. In the blink of an eye, they will need to make legal and ethical life or death decisions that will be scrutinized by the greatest legal minds in the world for decades to come. They must do this all with fairness and objectively.

In return, they can expect to rotate through day, evening and nightshifts for what seems like an eternity. They will work no matter the weather, even when others are told to stay home. They must battle exhaustion, insomnia, weight gain and weight loss. Stress related illnesses including PTSD are forever menacing. They can expect a higher rate of divorce and suicide than the general population, as well as the threat of death or disabling injury every day on the job and every day in their personal life because they chose to wear the badge. Yet still, they serve.

We now live in a time of 24-hour, seven-day a week news cycles fuelled by cameras in every cell phone with access to social media to spread truth, lies and judgment. It has been a doubled edged sword for law enforcement as it has shown them at their best, and at their worst. While the vast, Vast, VAST majority of officers serve with absolute distinction, a handful have disgraced the badge and what it stands for. It not only hurts them, but the entire community as well. I can tell you first hand there is nothing more disturbing, more reprehensible, more unacceptable to law enforcement than when one of their own has gone bad.

I was extremely fortunate in my time as a law enforcement officer to have served with men and women of integrity and courage. Many of these officers are still serving today. Through my later work and friendships, I am also honored to know officers in my local community and throughout the country at every level in a wide range of departments and agencies. I can say without hesitation, these too are officers of the highest caliber whom I would trust my very life with.

National Police Week 2016 is from Sunday, May 15, 2016 through Saturday, May 21, 2016. During this time the nation pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. Since 1791, over 20,000 officers have made the ultimate sacrifice in this country. Their names are engraved on the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. One of these names was a friend of mine.

If you have not, I encourage you to visit the memorial in person or online at www.nleomf.org/memorial and learn the stories of these heroes who gave everything for the communities they served.

Furthermore, I encourage you to learn what your local law enforcement officers are doing in your community and support them wherever you can; with your vote, your time, your funds, your words or your hands.

To those who have died with the badge as well as those who continue to wear it today, I thank you.

Bob

#oddstuffing, #thinblueline, #nleom, #nationalpoliceweek2016