412th SFS, local law enforcement observe National Police Week Published May 21, 2013 By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs 412th Test Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- National Police Week was observed May 13 to 17, and here at Edwards, the 412th Security Forces Squadron sponsored several events including a K-9 Working Dog demonstration, a children's drug awareness and security briefing, a multi-agency End of Watch ceremony and a National Memorial Fund Golf Tournament on Friday. Members of the Kern County Sheriff's Department's K-9 unit joined the 412th SFS May 15 at Arnold Field for a joint K-9 unit and Military Working Dog demonstration. On May 16, several law enforcement agencies from the surrounding communities converged in front of Building 1 for an End of Watch ceremony to honor fallen police officers and U.S. Air Force security forces personnel. Law enforcement agencies who participated in the ceremony included the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Kern County Sheriff's Dept., California Highway Patrol, California City Police Dept., Arcadia Police Dept., Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service. During the ceremony, a member of each agency read off names of fallen peace officers from their respective agencies to honor each officer's sacrifice and memory. The End of Watch Ceremony also featured a traditional bagpipe rendition while the names were being read. Police Week at Edwards AFB wrapped up with a National Memorial Fund Gold Tournament at Muroc Lake Golf Course. *In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The Memorial Service began in 1982 as a gathering in Senate Park of approximately 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement. Decades later, the event, more commonly known as National Police Week, has grown to a series of events which attracts thousands of survivors and law enforcement officers to our Nation's Capital each year. The National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, which is sponsored by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, is one in a series of events which includes the Candlelight Vigil, which is sponsored by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) and seminars sponsored by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) National Police Week draws in between 25,000 to 40,000 attendees. The attendees come from departments throughout the United States as well as from agencies throughout the world. This provides a unique opportunity to meet others that share a common brotherhood. In that spirit, the Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge #1 sponsors receptions each afternoon and evening during Police Week. These events are open to all law enforcement personnel and are an experience unlike any other. *Information collected from www.policeweek.org.