On October 1, 1962, President Kennedy signed into law a declaration of May 15th, each year, as National Peace Officers Memorial Day. Each year, whatever week May 15th falls into is commonly known as National Police Week. As I write this today, Monday, May 10th, I can’t help but think about how we need it this year more than ever.
Anyone who has attended the events in Washington DC around the National Law Enforcement Memorial can tell you how emotionally moving it is. I defy you to find a law enforcement professional who has attended the Candlelight Vigil (hosted by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund) who hasn’t cried. I consider myself pretty hardcore… but I cry every year I attend. I can’t help myself when I consider the sacrifice made by the officers who have fallen… their last moments… the motivation of their lives… their surviving spouses and children. Yep, that’s about where I lose it every year.
I’ve been wearing a badge for coming up on 40 years now and I can’t remember a time in my career when law enforcement, in general, was as challenged as it is right now. The utterly unreasonable demands for defunding and disarming the police along with a complete lack of appreciation (according to the mainstream media) for the sacrifices we make on a daily basis is… Appalling? Disillusioning? Demoralizing? All of the above?
Across the country agencies are facing recruiting challenges and it should come as no surprise. Why would anyone want to take on the job? All of the old motivations have been taken away and all of the potential risks to self, finance and future have all increased. I am amazed by and proud of all those young men and women who are going into the law enforcement profession, even still today. They see what’s going on around them. They see the lack of appreciation. They see the increased risk and yet they still apply, jump through all of the hoops, face the challenge of the academy and hit the streets. “Protect and Serve” is on their mind and in their hearts and they are our future. Thank God for them.
What they will need is our support; the benefit of our knowledge; the ability to learn from our experience (and most importantly, our mistakes). What they will need hasn’t been available for two years. The last time National Police Week happened in person was 2019. It was cancelled due to the covid pandemic in 2020 – and the impact was immeasurable. Sure, there was the obvious drop in donations and fundraising by the non-profits involved, but what of the officers who go for “the family reunion”?
Each year, for about 20 now, I’ve made it a point to go up to Police Week; to visit the memorial; to think about those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. To look at the tokens left on, in front of and behind the memorial wall near the panel where an officer’s name is etched. I’ve seen amazing reminders that the officer may be gone but s/he will never be forgotten. I’ve seen letters from children who were unborn when their parent made the ultimate sacrifice written to that parent… and I’ve had total strangers put their arms around me as I stood their crying. I’ve held widows as they cried and told me about their amazing husbands. I’ve held widowers as they cried and told me about their amazing wives. I’ve gotten down on my knees and smiled as children bragged to me about parents they either never met or barely remembered, as their mother stood over their shoulder holding back tears.
National Police Week is about far more than remembering, fundraising, etching names and The Vigil. As important as all of that is, there is no way to articulate the largest impact National Police Week has when it’s held in person: the emotional recharge.
We need to remember that law enforcement professionals come in all shapes and sizes, both genders, all ages and from agencies of all sizes: from one person to over 35,000. We answer to titles of police officer, patrolman, deputy, trooper, agent, constable, peacemaker and more. For all of our differences, we all have a few things in common.
We were all driven at some point to step forward, raise our hand and take an oath. That oath focuses 100% on serving others and protecting our quality of life.
We all put on a uniform of some kind, pin on a badge, shield or star and go out to face the unknown.
We all have said goodbye to our significant other and our children and left for work, not knowing if we just said our last goodbyes.
We have all seen horrific things and maintained our professionalism through them, only to fall apart when we were no longer in the public eye.
We have all worked while sick, injured, exhausted and hungry.
We have all testified in cases where the suspect was guilty as hell of some act of evil, and walked away free because of either a technicality or a bold faced lie.
For all of that, we have continued to do the job, supporting each other and serving our respective communities.
During National Police Week, whether it’s in the nation’s capital or in our own cities and towns, we’ve gathered with our brother and sister officers, held memorial services and vigils and recharged our emotional batteries. We’ve reconfirmed our oath, added strength to our commitment, found faith in our purpose as we’re surrounded by our law enforcement family and then we’ve gone on… for another year.
That was sorely missed in 2020 and is still being missed in far too many places again this year. I encourage you, in whatever way is allowable by your state and agency, gather; remember; memorialize; tell stories (watch who is around when you do that part). Raise a glass and offer a toast to those who have gone before us. Honor their memory and learn from their experiences. Never forget that what we do matters more than most people will ever know.
We are The Thin Blue Line. We are family – even when we disagree, bicker or fight. We are one and if we don’t remember that, we’ll be dismantled even more than society is currently trying to do. What we do is the glue that holds civilized society together. We are that line of guardians standing in front of the innocent and protecting them from the evil that stalks our world.
Make no mistake: it’s there and hunting. Hold your ground. Stay strong. Support each other. Stay safe.
