AFSCME Celebrates National Law Enforcement Week

During National Law Enforcement Week, downtown Washington, D.C., teems with uniformed officers from every corner of the country. They come together to honor their colleagues who have fallen in the line of duty.

It is a solemn week, with a candlelight vigil and reverent wreath-laying ceremonies at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

It is also a vivid reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers face on the job. This week also highlights a somber fact — protecting their communities peace can sometimes be deadly for these dedicated public service workers.

Barbara Bowles, President of AFSCME Local 1485 and a 911 Dispatcher for York County, PA, attended the events in the nation's capital this week.

"QUOTE," Barbara said.

Read here about an officer who died in 1950 being honored during Law Enforcement Week thanks to an AFSCME member’s research, as well as a video message from AFSCME President Lee Saunders.

Also during National Law Enforcement Week, AFSCME acknowledges the continuing fight to provide officers with the resources, staffing, safety, pay and benefits they deserve. As working people face an affordability crisis and communities grapple with cuts to state and local budgets, AFSCME members are stepping up to protect their communities and strengthen the law enforcement mission.

• In April, members of AFSCME Local 195 (Council 82) joined a protest outside Auburn City Hall in New York to object to proposed layoffs of city personnel, including seven police officers.
• Last fall, members of Stratford Police Union AFSCME Local 409 (Council 4) had strong ideas of how to fix chronic understaffing and high turnover. So they helped elect a new mayor who supported public safety professionals.
• In an important step to help recruit and retain officers, AFSCME has endorsed the bipartisan Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act. This bill would spend more than $100 million over the next five years to create child care programs that support law enforcement and corrections officers.

In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. 

AFSCME Council 13 thanks the law enforcement and public safety professionals who keep our communities safe 24/7/365, and we forever remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.