Highlights of National Police Week 2008

NLEOMF

National Police Week started out this year with a bang. A bang of lightning, a burst of thunder, and inches of rain all put Washington, D.C., under water. But the spirit of the week prevailed despite the weather, and as the Candlelight Vigil and Peace Officers Memorial Day rolled around, sunshine and mild weather came with it. This was a Police Week of survival, and we all got through it together.

The 13th Annual Law Ride & Wreathlaying – May 11
An estimated 1,100 motorcycle riders – among them U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters – made the annual trek from RFK Stadium to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The Law Ride pays tribute to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, in particular the more than 1,200 motorcycle officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice throughout U. S. history.
Law Ride 2008 raised close to $50,000 for the NLEOMF and the National Law Enforcement Museum.
Tippit Family Makes First Visit to the Memorial – May 12
On Nov. 22, 1963, Dallas Police Officer J. D. Tippit stopped to question Lee Harvey Oswald on his way quietly out of Dallas, minutes after Oswald had assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Nervous he had been caught, Oswald shot Officer Tippit four times. Oswald was arrested fleeing the scene; 39-year-old J. D. Tippit died on the way to the hospital.
Officer Tippit left behind a wife, Marie, and three young children. Marie Tippit had never seen her heroic husband’s name engraved on the walls of the Memorial, until this Police Week.
With the help of Dallas Police officers, Marie Tippit and her son, Curtis, made their first visit to the Memorial. Chairman and CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Craig Floyd presented Mrs. Tippit with a framed picture of her husband and an etching of his name.

Police Unity Tour Arrival Ceremony — May 12
The rain made its presence known to the Police Unity Tour this year. Once again “riding for those who died,” our brave men and women in blazing PUT blue fought through days of torrential rain during their journeys from northern New Jersey and southern Virginia. The final leg of the ride – considered by most to be the most memorable part – had to be cancelled and re-scheduled due to the severe weather.
Instead of riding into the Memorial at 2 p.m., the group took a safer route and bussed into the District. They re-scheduled their arrival for 7 p.m. that evening. Hundreds gathered in the light drizzle to celebrate their best fundraising year yet.
The Unity Tour presented the NLEOMF with more than $1,227,000 to go to the National Law Enforcement Museum, part of the $5 million pledge they made in 2005.

20th Annual Candlelight Vigil – May 13
With glowing candles held high and a sharp blue laser light overhead, an estimated 20,000 people packed the Memorial for the 20th Annual Candlelight Vigil in honor of America’s fallen law enforcement officers.
Approximately half of the two-hour ceremony involved the reading aloud of all 358 names that were added this year to the walls of the Memorial –181 officers who died in 2007 and 177 who died in previous years.
The names were read by U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, NLEOMF board members, law enforcement leaders and survivors from across the country. Jean Hill, national president of Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) and General Mukasey together lit the Memorial Candle, from which the lighting of the thousands of candles in the crowd began.

Peace Officers Memorial Day – May 15
On the day our nation lowered its flags to half-staff – May 15, Peace Officers Memorial Day – loved ones and colleagues of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2007 gathered at the steps of the U.S. Capitol for a special ceremony.
U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao gave remarks and the names of fallen officers were read aloud during the 27th Annual Peace Officers Memorial Day Service. Designated by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, Peace Officers Memorial Day is an important part of honoring the country’s fallen heroes.
At the conclusion of the U.S. Capitol service, leaders of the Fraternal Order of Police, the FOP Auxiliary, Concerns of Police Survivors and the NLEOMF brought the wreath from the Capitol to the Memorial to remain under the watch of honor guards for the rest of the evening.

Other Police Week Events
National Police Week was again in the spirit of competition and presentation this year as the 6th Annual Steve Young Honor Guard Competition and 13th Annual Emerald Society & Pipeband March brought extra festivity to Washington. Congratulations to the U.S. Border Patrol, which took first place honors in the Honor Guard competition.
For more information about National Police Week 2008, including video of various events, visit the NLEOMF blog at www.nleomf.blogspot.com. To order a copy of the 2008 Candlelight Vigil, visit the NLEOMF online Gift Shop at www.nleomf.com/ catHome.htm. •

....An article from the latest issue of Police Officers Quarterly