About Me

My photo
I retired after completing 38 years as a law enforcement officer in the State of Florida. I began my law enforcement career with the City of Miami, where I served for nearly 27 years before serving with a state agency for 11 1/2 years (part of that time as Interim Inspector General). During my career with Miami I worked in uniform patrol, the detective bureau, and the 911 center. I was also a member of the first law enforcement crew to respond to New York City on September 11, 2001. From January 2007 to April 2011 I also served as a commissioner on the state commission that governs the certification of law enforcement, correctional and probation officers in the state. I am a Past President of the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police (President 2004-2006); I was an employee representative with Miami FOP Lodge #20 for almost 21 years (6 years serving at the Chief Steward). I have worked on legislative issues at all levels, worked on political screening committees. I’m a past member of the Dade County Republican Executive Committee, and have been an advisor/ law enforcement liaison for a presidential candidate..

Monday, May 4, 2020

Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week

Normally in the month of May law enforcement agencies around the nation would be holding memorial services honoring their officers that have made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their life in the performance of their duty.  There would be a national remembrance on the lawn of the U.S. Capital on May 15th, this would be preceded by a candlelight vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on May 13th. However, because of the Covid-19 Pandemic the country is currently dealing with many of these services may not take place this year, including the national service which was canceled (a video salute will be issued in it's place and officers for 2019 and 2020 will be honored next year).

Over the past several years law enforcement agencies have had a large turnover of officers and sometimes in the transition we lose some of our historical information. I have had new officers and citizens ask me why police memorials are held in May? I wrote about Florida's Law Enforcement Service back in 2011 and thought I would do another brief article to explain why these services are held during the month of May. 

On October 1, 1962 Congress passed a joint resolution (76 Stat.676) requesting that the President of the United States designate May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day. As a result of that joint resolution, on May 4, 1963 President John F. Kennedy issued a Presidential Proclamation, #3537, designating May 15th of each year as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls as Police Week.

Law Enforcement Agencies try to hold their services during the month of May on dates that won't conflict with the national service so that the survivors will be able to attend the local and national service honoring their loved one. It also allows for the friends and coworkers to be able to attend and show support for the survivors and each other.  As well as honoring those that gave their life in the performance of their duty the previous year it is a way of ensuring that those that made the ultimate sacrifice in the past are not forgotten.

I will close by asking that on May 15th we all stop for a moment to remember all the Peace Officers that went to work one day and never returned home to their loved ones.
Posted by at

1 comment:

O 4 C E said...

...that is the sacrifice we have to pay as security operatives. We leave everything behind to protect lives and properties.

May 4, 2020 at 5:05 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)