This post was written by Carl McDonald, MADD’s National Law Enforcement Initiatives Manager. Carl is a retired Lieutenant of the Wyoming State Patrol.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. is hallowed ground for me. Some of my friend’s names are inscribed upon the walls there. Many years ago as a young state trooper I first entered the plaza of the memorial. It is a starkly poignant place. My emotions were stirred most not by the number of names inscribed there, but more by the vacant space that will be filled with the names of those to come. Years later, I now reflect about my survival and that of my fellow officers.
Law enforcement is a dangerous business. Survival is dependent upon constant vigilance not only of those violent situations that can take place where human emotions rule, but also by constant exposure to the unpredictable. Thanks to television drama and other fiction, we are all familiar with firearms related incidents and law enforcement officers, sometimes with a constant barrage of gun fights during prime time viewing. However, here are some facts to consider:
- By the close of 2010, traffic related fatalities among law enforcement officers lead all categories of officer deaths for 14 straight years
- Officers killed by drunk drivers increased by 43% over the last four decades
- 153 officers were struck and killed by vehicles from 2001 – 2010
- Although 49 states now have “Move Over” laws requiring motorists to change lanes and reduce speed when encountering emergency vehicles upon the roadway, 71% of the public has never heard of these laws (Hawaii and Washington D.C. have yet to pass this law)
At MADD, we consider law enforcement to be our first, most natural partner. These are our heroes that make our roadways safe. In addition, MADD is in constant partnership with agencies that are making a difference in the safety of the law enforcement officers in this country. Our partners include the International Association of Chiefs of Police, The National Sheriffs’ Association, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Department of Justice, the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted program, and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the source for the above statistics.
National Police week is a time set aside for recognizing the service and sacrifice of law enforcement in the United States. Every year, National Police Week is observed during the week in which May 15th falls as established by a joint resolution in Congress in 1962. This is a time for special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty; those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of others.
Like so many others this week, I will take this time to reflect. I will reflect upon those who’ve fallen, their families, and their sacrifice for us all. It is their time. It is their week.
Submitted by richardgoodnewsservice@yahoo.com at 12:12 AM on May 15, 2012