“It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived.” This quote along with others are inscribed on our National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., a site that is dedicated to the over 19,000 police officers who have been killed in the line of duty since 1792. In 1962, President John Kennedy signed into law that May 15, and the week that falls on that day, be designated Police Officer Memorial Day and Police Memorial Week. Local, state and nationwide events are scheduled to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The dangers of law enforcement are self evident to most, but to others they are not. Every day, every call has a set of dangers unlike many other professions. Every single call that an officer responds to, there is a very real possibility of injury or death. Whether it is a traffic stop, a domestic dispute, or a burglary, officers are prepared and trained for the worst. We choose this profession for a variety of different reasons, but the most common ones are to “help people” and “serve our community.” We, as officers, are well aware of the dangers before going into this profession, but believe the good that comes out of it outweighs these dangers. We strive toward providing the best public safety possible and improving quality of life through many different initiatives.

One hundred and sixty-two law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2010, including two officers in Minnesota. Law enforcement deaths rose 40 percent from 2009. Many of these officers leave behind spouses, children and other family members and friends who must deal with the untimely loss. The average age of these officers was 41 years of age, with 12 years of law enforcement experience. The average number of children left behind by each fallen officer is two. The largest city where an officer was killed was Chicago (2.7 million residents) and the smallest was Cowden, Ill. (612).

An alarming fact was there were five incidents resulting in multiple officer deaths (10) in Fresno, Calif., San Juan, Puerto Rico, West Memphis, Ark., Tampa, Fla., and Hoonah, Alaska. These killings, also known as “cluster killings,” have unfortunately becoming more common. To date, 19,298 officers have been killed in the line of duty since 1792 (222 officers in Minnesota). Sixty-seven officers have been killed in the line of duty already in 2011, as of May 5, an increase of 18 percent from 2010. Eleven officers were shot in a 24-hour period in January, resulting in five officer deaths. On average, there are more than 59,000 assaults on police officers which result in roughly 14,000 injuries.

This week is dedicated to police officers at the local, state federal levels and more specifically those who have lost their life serving. Our job can be enjoyable and exciting at times, often described as the “front row seat to the greatest show on earth.” At other times, our job is stressful and tedious, filled with mountains of paperwork, death notifications and separating families. The recent murders of Maplewood Police Department Sgt. Joe Bergeron and Mahnomen County sheriff’s deputy Christopher Dewey hit close to home and remind us that on any day, any time, on any type of call we could be taken from this life.

Not only is this week dedicated to police officers, but a time when we as officers would like to thank our family, friends and the community for their continued support of us and our profession.

“In valor there is hope.”

Steve Charboneau

officer

Albert Lea Police Department

Albert Lea