Honoring Police Officers and Law Enforcement Professionals During Police Week

Floor Speech

HONORING POLICE OFFICERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS DURING POLICE WEEK -- (House of Representatives - May 19, 2009)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. McNERNEY. I rise in proud support of H. Res. 426. I thank the gentleman from Texas for his words and support. We're basically here to honor police officers and law enforcement professionals.

I introduced this resolution last Tuesday in recognition of National Police Week. H. Res. 426 commends police officers and law enforcement professionals for the hard and often dangerous work they perform to keep us safe.

Almost 47 years ago, in October of 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a resolution designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it occurs as Police Week. Since then, police officers have held events during Police Week honoring their fallen brethren and officers who worked tirelessly to keep us safe.

May 15 just passed, but our law enforcement officials should be celebrated daily.

So far this year more than 40 officers from around the country have lost their lives in the line of duty. Four officers from California, including Sergeants Mark Dunakin of Tracy and Ervin Romans of Danville, both from my district, were killed earlier this year. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of these dedicated officers.

In honor of their memory and in thanks for the hard work and selfless dedication of our Nation's police officers and law enforcement professionals, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. These brave men and women deserve our respect and gratitude. I further encourage my colleagues to support our law enforcement professionals not just during Police Week but every day of the year.

Source