Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Recognizing Madison Police Department Officers during National Police Week 2017 and to honor the service and sacrifice of those law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty while protecting our communities and safeguarding our democracy.
Body
WHEREAS, the Madison Police Department was created in 1856, and in 1895, the Madison Police Department believes, there were approximately 15 commissioned officers in the department who served the citizens of the City of Madison; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Police Department now has an authorized strength of 468 officers; and,
WHEREAS, there are approximately 900,000 law enforcement officers currently serving in communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Madison Police Department; and,
WHEREAS, since the first recorded death in 1791, more than 20,000 law enforcement officers in the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice and been killed in the line of duty, including four members of the Madison Police Department; and,
WHEREAS, the names of these dedicated public servants are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and,
WHEREAS, 394 new names of fallen heroes are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this spring, including 143 officers killed in 2016 and 251 officers killed in previous years; and,
WHEREAS, the service and sacrifice of all officers killed in the line of duty will be honored during the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s 29th Annual Candlelight Vigil, on the evening of May 13, 2017; and,
WHEREAS, the Candlelight Vigil is part of National Police Week, which takes place this year on May 14-20 (Note: Because May 14, 2017 falls on a Sunday, some events will take place before the official dates of Police Week 2017); and,
WHEREAS, May 15 is designated as Peace Officers Memorial Day, in honor of all fallen officers and their families and U.S. flags should be flown at half-staff,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Mayor and Common Council formally designates May 14-20, 2017, as Police Week in the City of Madison, and publicly salutes the service of law enforcement officers in the City of Madison and in all communities across the nation.