The Rice County Board of Commissioners today unanimously passed a resolution proclaiming this police week.  Sheriff Troy Dunn read the proclamation at the meeting.

The Proclamation of National Police Week states it's to "recognize National Police Week 2020 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."

Whereas, there are approximately 900,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Rice County Sheriff's Office; and

Whereas, since the first line-of-duty death in 1786, more than 21,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice and been killed in the line of duty, including 2 members of the Rice County Sheriff's Office (Deputy Terry Hanson 26 years ago and Deputy John Liebenstein 24 years ago); and

Whereas, a total of 1,582 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the past 10 years, an average of one death every 55 hours or 158 per year.  There were 128 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2019 compared to 158 in 2018; 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.  Currently, there are 21,190 names engraved on the memorial wall; and

Whereas, there have been 60,211 assaults against law enforcement officers in 2017, resulting in approximately 17,476 injuries; and

Whereas, May 15th is National Peace Officers' Memorial Day, in honor of all fallen officers and their families, display the flag of the United States at half-staff on all government buildings.

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the Rice County Board of Commissioners does hereby proclaim the week of May 10-16, 2020 as:

National Police Week in Rice County, and publicly salutes the service of law enforcement officers in our community and in communities across the nation.

Dunn told commissioners plants were being delivered to the widows of Hanson and Liebenstein Tuesday so they know their sacrifice is not forgotten.

Commissioner Jeff Docken expressed his gratitude to Dunn and his department.

In 1962 President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which the date falls as National Police Week.

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