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National Police Week: LRAFB honors law enforcement

Photo By Kalee Sexton | Little Rock Air Force Base Honor Guard members post the colors at the opening ceremony...... read more read more

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, ARKANSAS, UNITED STATES

05.18.2021

Courtesy Story

19th Airlift Wing

The 19th Security Forces Squadron and Office of Special Investigations Detachment 327 honored law enforcement during National Police Week at Little Rock Air Force Base, May 10-14.

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy established May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, which is commemorated each year during National Police Week. The annual observance honors law enforcement officers who've fallen in the line of duty.

Brett Hibbs, Jacksonville Police Department chief of police, opened the week by speaking at a ceremony that featured photos of fallen law enforcement officers.

“Specifically for us in security forces downrange on deployments, it’s important to remember these officers because they were serving their community and serving their country,” said Senior Master Sgt. Kurt Lugar, 19th SFS superintendent “They’ve earned that remembrance and we need to appreciate what they’ve done for us.”

The goal of National Police Week is to not only honor those who have given their life, but to teach others what goes into being a law enforcement officer, and what it takes to be willing to make that sacrifice.

It also provides an opportunity for security forces members to showcase some of the tools of their trade and to engage with the public in a non-emergency way.

“Police Week is about honoring and remembering the life, service, and sacrifice of all our fallen law enforcement brothers and sisters on both the civilian and military sides,” said Maj. Andrew Ferguson, 19th SFS commander. “It’s about celebrating our culture and sharing it with friends, family, colleagues and the communities we serve.”

The week featured several events, including pistol and rifle competitions, a military working dog competition and a 24-hour ruck march to pay tribute to the fallen.

“The events are intended to be fun and promote competition while celebrating and sharing our culture,” Ferguson said.

Lugar said members recognize the value of being able to hold events this year — since many were unable to attend last year’s Police Week due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“The most important thing to us this year was being able to bring people together in person to participate in honoring law enforcement through these event,” Lugar said. “We weren’t able to do that last year.”

At times the events can take on a serious tone, knowing that some officers have paid the ultimate price while in the line of duty.

“For the last two years, we were able to display the photos of our fallen Defenders and Special Agents and read their names aloud so that we may never forget,” Ferguson said. “That’s the somber, but most important aspect of Police Week.”

“We’re not forgetting what they sacrificed their lives for,” Lugar added. “This is a special week; a special time to remember the fallen and carry their legacy forward.”