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Opinion
It's time to thank all those who protect us
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Though it's not as well-known as many other observances, this past week was National Peace Officers Memorial Day, a time set aside each year to recognize and honor those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Established in 1962 by President John Kennedy, this week provides special recognition for the law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line each day.
Thank the good Lord that locally we have no officers on the list of those honored. But that should not stop us from honoring those who have fallen and giving special thanks for those who protect our lives and property throughout the year.
During this past year, 286 law enforcement heroes gave their lives in the line of duty and this week has been established to honor their memory.
Law enforcement can often be a thankless profession. The sad truth is that we don't often think of law enforcement until we need it.
And when we need it, our expectations are always high.
In Sikeston we are blessed with a professional law enforcement community who go about their daily activity with little recognition.
Having had the privilege of working along side local law enforcement for a number of years, I know firsthand of their dedication and sacrifice.
Crime statistics alone don't tell the full story of how effective and efficient law enforcement officers are to a community.
But I can tell you this: Our local Public Safety personnel are among the best trained and equipped department in this region and their success speaks for itself.
It's no secret that Sikeston (and we are not alone) has a criminal element that negatively impacts the entire community.
But if you examine the former "bad days" in our city's history with today, you can see exactly how the efforts of law enforcement pay dividends.
We often think of the necessity of the military to protect our lives but law enforcement has a similar task.
And because of those daily sacrifices, we owe law enforcement a substantial debt of gratitude.
Take the time today to think of those 286 who gave their lives. And when given the chance, thank your local officers for keeping us safe and secure.