Law Enforcement Memorial 2012

 Law Enforcement Memorial 2012

This year has been interesting in that my schedule had allowed me to visit law enforcement memorials and attend services for those killed in the line of duty.  Jo even participated in the Inaugural 1st Annual COPS Walk Southwest.  What a blessing it has been so far.  I am including some images from places visited this year and in the past.  I am also providing links to organizations that assist law enforcement and their families or have other connections.  Enjoy the images and please check out the organizations.

Arizona Concerns of Police Survivors

Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families and affected co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty as determined by Federal criteria. Furthermore, C.O.P.S. provides training to law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues and educates the public of the need to support the law enforcement profession and its survivors.

http://www.arizonacops.org/

 Concerns of Police Survivors

C.O.P.S. was organized in 1984 with 110 individual members. Today C.O.P.S. membership is over 15,000 families.  Members include spouses, children, parents, siblings, significant others, and affected co-workers of officers killed in the line of duty according to Federal government criteria.  C.O.P.S. is governed by a National Board of law enforcement survivors.  All programs and services are administered by the National Office in Camdenton, Missouri. Chapters function in several states at the grass-roots level.

http://www.nationalcops.org/

 "Carved on these walls is the story of America, of a continuing quest to preserve both democracy and decency, and to protect a national treasure that we call the American dream."

—President George H.W. Bush

 "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are as bold as a lion."

—Proverbs 28:1

 "It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived."

—Vivian Eney Cross, Survivor

 National Law Enforcement Memorial – Washington, D.C.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is centered in the 400 block of E Street, NW, Washington, DC and is the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Dedicated on October 15, 1991, the Memorial honors federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our nation and its people.

http://www.nleomf.org/memorial/

Officer Fatality Update Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities: Preliminary 2012 Numbers as of May 30, 2012
	2012	2011	%Change
Total Fatalities	45	80	-44%
Firearms-related	16	35	-54%
Traffic-related	17	27	-37%
Other Causes	12	18	-33%

 100 Club of Arizona

“Supporting those behind the badge and their families…”

http://100club.org/

 Arizona Peace Officers Memorial – Phoenix, AZ

Every year, on the first Monday in May, the Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Board honors the officers that have made the ultimate sacrifice and their families.  The weekend prior to the Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Service, the Board also hosts the Annual Peace Officers Memorial Charity Golf Tournament and the Annual Peace Officers Memorial 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run.  All proceeds of the event will assist with the annual Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Service. Every year the Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Board recognizes those officers that have made the “ultimate sacrifice”. The service allows current and past years survivors a time to join together to honor their fallen heroes.

http://www.azag.gov/law_enforcement/PeaceOfficerMemorial.html

 Officer Down Memorial Page

“Remembering All of Law Enforcement’s Heroes.”

http://www.odmp.org/

 Ray Rios Memorial – Douglas, AZ

The Ray Rios Fallen Officers Memorial is Located in Douglas Arizona. It is placed in honor and memory of our fallen heroes in Law Enforcement, Firefighting and EMS in Cochise County who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty- their lives.

http://rayriosmemorial.bbnow.org/index.php

 For me visiting the memorials is therapeutic and intense.  It is a time to reflect, remember, regret, and revere.  Of course it hits me personally due to my own losses.  My Dad, agency co-workers, and others who take up the call understand things a bit differently than the rest of the people, who in turn give the ultimate sacrifice.  I also feel for those who have been left behind to grieve and sort out the meaning of it all.  The lives lost and experiences affect all that are touched by the loss.  No one expects to not return from work, but all in this line of work know it is a possibility.   I have met a great number of incredible survivors and others who care greatly.

 "In valor there is hope."

—Tacitus

Law Enforcement Dedication

I will add images from time to time, as the collection grows.

There are individuals among us that perform duties that go well beyond the norm. They Protect and Serve us all. Many times they go about their business with little or no fanfare. And on the worst day these proud defenders are taken from us before their time. Whether serving at the local, state, or federal level they are heroes. I am talking about those unique, and often under-appreciated, folks that choose Law Enforcement as their profession and calling.

Police are agents or agencies, usually of the executive, empowered to enforce the law and to ensure public and social order through the legitimized use of force.
The term is most commonly associated with police departments of a state that are authorized to exercise the police power of that state within a defined legal or territorial area of responsibility. The word comes via French from the Latin politia (“civil administration”), which itself derives from the Ancient Greek, πόλις, for polis ("city").

The first police force comparable to present-day police was established in 1667 under King Louis in France, although modern police usually trace their origins to the 1800 establishment of the Marine Police in London, the Glasgow Police, and the Napoleonic police of Paris. The first modern police force is also commonly said to be the London Metropolitan Police, established in 1829, which promoted the preventive role of police as a deterrent to urban crime and disorder.
Law enforcement however constitutes only part of policing activity. Policing has included an array of activities in different situations, but the predominant ones are concerned with the preservation of order. In some societies, in the late 18th century and early 19th century, these developed within the context of maintaining a layered societal structure and the protection of property.

Alternative names for police force include constabulary, gendarmerie, police department, police service, crime prevention, protective services, law enforcement agency or Garda Síochána, and members can be police officers, troopers, sheriffs, constables, rangers, peace officers or Garda. Russian police and police of the Soviet-era Eastern Europe are (or were) called militsiya.

Specialized Units
Specialized preventive and detective groups exist within many law enforcement organizations either for dealing with particular types of crime, such as traffic law enforcement and crash investigation, homicide, or fraud; or for situations requiring specialized skills, such as underwater search, aviation, explosive device disposal ("bomb squad"), and computer crime.
Most larger jurisdictions also employ specially-selected and trained quasi-military units armed with military-grade weapons for the purposes of dealing with particularly violent situations beyond the capability of a patrol officer response, including high-risk warrant service and barricaded suspects. In the United States these units go by a variety of names, but are commonly known as SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) teams.

All of those who make the choice to enter this honorable profession must realize that they will enter dangerous areas or situation. They also know that others may seek them out in anger or assistance. None of us know when our last day might be, but not all professions face the danger of death as often or with such attitudes of servitude.

There are several groups that honor and assist those killed in the line of duty and those left behind after such a tragedy. I have provided links to some I am familiar with below. I have more than a little respect and admiration for those in this profession. Their duties are of such that many would choose to avoid.

I have many friends that choose to enter in harm’s way and I respect them greatly. Somewhere along the way I started collecting patches from those I know and from areas where I have lived. The photos here are from that collection. I hope to add to these as time and circumstance allows. Donations are happily accepted.

I have one other interest in this blog entry. I wish to remember all those that gave their lives in the defense of what they believed in. This, of course, includes my own Father:

Leroy Dale Brown
Cochise County Sheriff Deputy, AZ
End of Watch: December 6, 1969

Thank you to all of those in the Law Enforcement community for your service and sacrifice. It takes a special person to do what you do on a daily basis and I am glad you are out there. You are in my thoughts and prayers as are your families.

These patches are from my own collection. Some are from trades, eBay, or from those who have shared with me from the Law Enforcement Community. I am always looking for more to add to the collection. I will continue to update this page as more patches are added.

Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) - http://www.nationalcops.org/home.htm

The Officer Down Memorial - http://www.odmp.org/

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial - http://www.nleomf.com/index.htm