Rally in Support of Law Enforcement Officers to be held January 9 at Noon in Diamond Park in Recognition of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day On Friday, January 9, 2015, at 12:00 noon in Diamond Park, across from the County Courthouse at Main and Diamond Streets in Downtown Butler, PA, we call Butler County citizens to action in support of law enforcement. In light of recent negativity directed toward law enforcement nationally, citizens are encouraged to show their appreciation of law enforcement officers by attending a public rally to recognize National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Expected in attendance are Butler County Sheriff Michael T. Slupe, local elected officials, and numerous law enforcement officials from around the County. In Butler County, there are 23 law enforcement agencies with approximately 322 active law enforcement officers, including the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police Troop D, and local police departments, who protect and serve. Can you imagine going to work each day not knowing if you’ll survive your shift and see your family that night? In law enforcement, this is a fact of life. Each day 780,000 police officers across our country put a badge on and go to work, knowing they may face extremely dangerous situations. Being a law enforcement officer is not just a job, it is a calling. The pay is low and the hours can be grueling, often with little appreciation for what they do. What the public doesn’t see is the lengths law enforcement takes to keep our communities safe. On average, between 100 and 200 officers die in the line of duty each year, 60,000 officers are assaulted, 14,000 officers are injured, and over 300 officers commit suicide each year. There is no other profession in the world, except possibly the military, where you will find these kinds of statistics. Being a law enforcement officer truly is a nearly impossible job. You must be professional, courteous, caring, and yet be prepared to make life-and-death decisions at a moment’s notice. You take an amazing amount of abuse at times, but have to view this abuse as just “part of the job.” Law enforcement officers play such an integral part in our society; without them, chaos would reign. Have you ever thought about what you would do if you were in trouble – a car accident, a home invasion, an assault – and you did not have someone to call for help? No matter how much abuse law enforcement takes, they continue to do their job, and do it well. They are the guardians of our way of life and they deserve our support. Citizens can show their support for National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in a number of ways: • Change your profile picture on social media to the .jpg image at the beginning of this proposal. • See a police officer? Thank a police officer. • Wear blue clothing in support of law enforcement. • Send a card of support to your local police department or state agency. • Share a positive story about a positive law enforcement experience on social media. • Ask children in your community write letters in support of law enforcement. • Participate in Project Blue Light. Proudly display your blue light in support of law enforcement.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:58:34 +0000