National Police Week spanning May 9-15 was different this year, necessitated by a COVID-induced virtual realm. But that didn’t diminish the brilliance of blue lights shining wherever you may be.
And the iconic Thin Blue Line, unceasingly resolute, maintained integrity, fighting the good fight, even though additional law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. Just over the last few days, more cops on the ever-so-dangerous frontlines were met with gunfire, resulting in the latest round of police funerals.
As police supporter Craig Floyd reminds us, “The first recorded American law enforcement fatality occurred on April 29, 1786. Sheriff Benjamin Branch, 54, of the Chesterfield County (VA) Sheriff’s Office, died after being thrown from his horse while on duty. Whether an officer’s supreme sacrifice occurred last year or more than 200 years ago, they will always be remembered and honored at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.”
(National Law Enforcement Memorial at night. Photo courtesy of Craig Floyd.)
Sadly, the number of cops slain in the line of duty perpetuates, especially lately. It is mindboggling and gut-wrenching to read post after post announcing cop after cop being murdered while fervently fulfilling their oath—it’s stymying to LEOs and citizens alike.
Leading the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said, “I don’t have the words anymore to express the grief, sorrow and yes, anger that I feel each time I see another law enforcement officer senselessly murdered and stolen from their loving families. My heart breaks for all of them, and I hope they know how many of us around the nation wish we could bring their beloved back home to them.”
Indeed, it is disheartening to start each day lately by confronting the latest reports of line-of-duty deaths occurring across the country. PragerU reminds us that cops are not the problem in our society, with stats debunking the big lie. Those who know facts embrace men and women of justice trying to do a difficult job, exacerbated by certain political whims fueled by perpetual pander.
“What is happening?” asked Sheriff Chitwood. I am certain most of us have that same bewilderment and insidious emotional sway when we witness casualties of cops scroll across our newsfeeds, dismayed by the seemingly burgeoning depravity exhibited by malcontents disowning any sense of responsibility for whatever problem(s) they may be carrying around.
Among many postings of folks Lighting it up Blue, it is reassuring to witness citizens’ homes and various merchants standing up for cops and flicking the light switch to cast a hue of blue, especially invigorating during night-time.
(Photo courtesy of Lis’s Pieces Artisan Boutique in New Port Richey, Florida.)
As depicted in the above photograph, Lis’s Pieces Artisan Boutique participated in a Light it up Blue campaign and posted the following supportive comment along with photos of her establishment standing for cops: “Mayor Marlow declared this week New Port Richey Police Appreciation week. Lis’s Pieces is lit up blue in honor of our men in blue! Thank you for your service! Thank you City of New Port Richey Police Department and Chief Bogart! We APPRECIATE you!”
Although that’s taking it to a local level, it works fine. After all, the cops most immediate in service to you are the ones deserving of the accolades.
The Tampa International Airport lit it up blue in recognition of fallen law enforcement officers. Posted by TIAPD police administration, several terminals shine that certain blue hue for all to see, especially since it is billed as one of the busiest airports in the nation.
Police agencies encourage their constituent residents to go blue for the duration of National Police Week. “During #PoliceWeek (May 9th-15th) as we honor those who have fallen in the line of duty here in Tampa Bay and across the country, we are encouraging you to light up your community blue,” a Tampa spokesperson wrote.
(Photo courtesy of the Tampa Police Department.)
With the bulbs I inserted in my two outdoor coach lights, I noticed far fewer bugs which are extraordinarily attracted to regular lighting, so there’s that.
Blue Without Lights
Despite the bunch of kowtowing elected officials who are among the nonsensical anti-police philosophers, pro-police politicians such as U.S. Congresswoman Kat Cammack stand in support of LEOs and exhibit it by Thin Blue Line flags at their congressional office doors and out in public while displaying Back the Blue ornamentations. Rep. Cammack’s congressional page is decked out in blue, and has been throughout National Police Week. On the U.S. House floor, she introduced a display and “special remarks” respecting our nation’s law enforcement community, physically naming each cop fallen in 2021 to date, which means their names will forever remain in the congressional archives:
Incidentally, like Mrs. Cammack whose husband is a first responder, some others holding political office are spouses of cops…such as Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody who, per the Miami Herald, is “married to Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Justin Duralia.”
Speaking of spouses, some widows of fallen cops are continually embraced by police executives and frontline heroes who maintain the battlegrounds against a seeming tide of anarchy. Mowed down by a drunken fugitive with zero care for life, Pinellas County Deputy Michael Magli was slain in the line of duty on February 17, 2021.
Pictured below is Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri consoling Mrs. Magli and one of her two now-fatherless children:
(Photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.)
That was at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office memorial wall, depicting yet another heartbroken police family as Deputy Magli’s etched name was unveiled as the latest among the list of the agency’s fallen law enforcement deputies.
It’s been stated many times but always bears repeating: Physical attendance at any police funeral or commemoration regarding fallen cops is deeply disheartening, sobering, and serves as an indelible reminder of the absolutely dangerous duties our nation’s LEOs endure, some meeting a final moment stemming from depravity and malice inflicted by twisted humans.
Early in my career, the first occasion I had to attend the Florida Police Memorial put me in a place of utter respect and belongingness, knowing I was definitely on the right team trying to do good for others, as promised by Constitutional covenants.
At these somber memorial venues we unfailingly witness total embrace not only between brother/sister LEOs but also citizens and figureheads alike.
Recently, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who recently signed a bill against defunding the police in his state, was photographed walking over to some state troopers where a respectful salute was exchanged. Governor Kemp’s site posted the following words:
“As we celebrate National Police Week, [my family] and I want to thank every person who puts on a uniform each day to protect us. You are the unsung heroes in our communities. Georgia is proud to #backtheblue!”
(Photo courtesy of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s office.)
In the realm of bittersweet, New York City is considering renaming a street after recently slain NYPD police Officer Anastasios Tsakos, according to the Greek City Times. If approved, the street where Officer Tsakos grew up will be named “Anastasios Tsakos Way.” This, after his enormously attended funeral on Long Island, NY, where he most recently resided with his loved ones. Per the Suffolk County Police Department which hosted NYPD Officer Tsakos’s final call, a sea of blue from far and wide stood in attendance.
Similarly, the city of Mission, Texas named a public street after one of their own. Police Officer Jorge Cabrera died from contracting COVID in the line of duty. The city and Mission PD thoughtfully coincided the street naming on what would have been his 43rd birthday, influencing a blue street sign, blue balloons, blue uniforms standing at attention, with his loved ones processing grief for their fallen crimefighter.
In a collage effort, the Los Angeles Police Museum offers a view of several slain law enforcement personnel, each having his/her name/EOW date totem-poled together, reminiscent of a traditional police squad of heroes fighting the good fight.
The typically constant 24/7 pace of police operations and law enforcement personnel who work the beat largely deprives cops from adequately processing the line-of-duty death of one of their own. Recently, weeks after his death, fallen Tampa police Officer Jesse Madsen was honored by Officer R. Agostinis, a cop who served with Madsen both in law enforcement and in military uniform while serving our nation during overseas deployments.
Tampa police Officer Agostinis shares a poignant synopsis about his heartbreak and handling of a fellow cop’s death, symbolized by patrolling police beats in a Tampa Police cruiser previously assigned to Officer Madsen:
(Photo courtesy of the Tampa Police Department.)
As we round the corner of National Police Week and watch our brave cops whose servant hearts prep for the next Roll Call, we pay tribute to all…and especially honor our fallen law enforcement officers:
In closing, I present to you heartfelt words (at 43:20) dedicated to those brave souls killed in the line of duty, as spoken by a Clearwater policeman whose decorum did not falter but actually rose to the moment with foretelling throat-swallow followed by tears, candidly assessing of our current anti-police climate…and scripture.
Here is the Clearwater Police Department’s memorial:
That riderless horse (introduced at 37:56) symbolic of a fallen comrade was marched through the memorial grounds. It reminds me of all the bounty and beauty God afforded us to coexist for one another, standing by each other…as cops are fashioned to do, sometimes resulting in self-sacrifice and the subsequent emptiness while we try to carry on the mission…