11 May, 2010

Honoring our Nation’s Law Enforcement

Honoring our Nation’s Law Enforcement
May 11th, 2010 Posted by Tracy Russo

Each year, between 140 and 160 public safety officers are killed in the line of duty. To honor the fallen and recognize the commitment of all public safety officers, President Obama declared May 15 as National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day and the week of the 15th as National Police Week.

This week pays special tribute to law enforcement officers, their families, and colleagues who have sacrificed for the safety and protection of others. President Obama appropriately states:

As a Nation, we rely on law enforcement officers to keep our neighborhoods safe, enforce our laws, and respond in times of crisis. These men and women sustain peace and order across America, and we look to them as models of courage and integrity.

This week is also a fitting time to recognize the vigilance of our law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Due to their dedication and watchfulness, we have been successful in identifying a number of emerging plots and stopping would-be attackers before they strike. Just last week, a Pakistani-born U.S. citizen was charged with terrorism and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction in New York City’s Times Square. Since the plot was uncovered, state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies have worked together tirelessly to find out who was responsible for what could have been a deadly attack.

The selflessness of our men and women in uniform reminds us of what John F. Kennedy, who established Police Week in 1962, once said, “For without belittling the courage with which men have died, we should not forget those acts of courage with which men have lived.”

Information on Police week activities is available at policeweek.org. For information on how the Department of Justice supports state and local law enforcement visit: The Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs or The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

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