In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Each year, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, D.C., to commemorate the lives of those law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Each year, the families of those law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty during the previous calendar year are invited to participate in a memorial service on the west lawn of the United States Capitol. A representative of each officer’s family and each officers’ agency will meet with the president to participate in a wreath laying ceremony immediately following the memorial service.

Although we can’t all make the annual trip to Washington to participate in the national observance, we can show support for our local families by attending the Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony at noon, Wednesday, May 15 in front of the Russell Thomas Jr. Public Safety Building. The guest speaker this year will be state Rep. Marc Morris (House District 26) of Cumming. Rep. Morris is a direct descendant of Officer William R. Morris, the first police officer killed in the line of duty in Americus.

Please take the time during lunch on Wednesday to come by and join us in supporting our families and honoring the memory of the local heroes who paid the ultimate price to safeguard this community.

I also challenge you this week to let any officers, deputies, troopers, or state agents you may see

know that you appreciate the job they do. None of them chose law enforcement as a profession for the great pay. They chose this profession because they care about our communities and they truly want to make a difference.

 

Mark Scott is chief, Americus