AFMC Command News

95th Security Forces Squadron, Team Edwards celebrate Police Week

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 95th Security Forces Squadron joined forces with local law enforcement agencies to honor past and present police officers during the final day of Edwards' celebration of National Police Week May 20.

To honor all fallen police officers, both military and civilian, a Peace Officers Memorial ceremony was held in front of the Air Force Flight Test Center headquarters.

Law enforcement officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, L.A. County Sheriff's Department, Kern County Sheriff's Department and the federal Bureau of Land Management attended the ceremony and read off names of fallen officers they wanted to remember.

The officers each placed a carnation on a memorial wreath set in front of the flag, which flew at half-mast. A carnation represented each agency and the fallen officers it recognized.

For Ruth Robinson, a budget analyst at AFFTC, the ceremony was heartfelt.

"National Police Week is very meaningful to me because I am a mother of a police officer," said Mrs. Robinson. "It [the ceremony] was awesome. I was really impressed with the commemoration of officers and the time that Edwards Air Force Base takes to do this."

This year, National Police Week, was held May 15 to 21. The event began in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation to honor the men and women in law enforcement and those who have died in the line of duty. May 15 is designated at Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Earlier in the week, 95 SFS put on a display in front of the Base Exchange where customers saw weapons and vehicle displays. They also put on a military working dog demonstration for BX patrons during lunchtime.

"We just wanted to show our involvement in the community," said Staff Sgt. Randall Earby, 95 SFS Police Services. "A lot of times people don't see us unless we're pulling them over, so this is our way to show what we do day to day."

According to the National Police Week website, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, D.C., to participate in a number of planned events those honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The memorial service in the nation's capital began in 1982 as a gathering in Senate Park of approximately 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement. Decades later, the event has become known as National Police Week and has grown to a series of events that attract thousands of survivors and law enforcement officers to Washington each year.