If you have a police officer as a friend or family member, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on January 9 is the perfect time to show officers we understand how difficult their job is. So it’s important to show officers how much we understand their difficult work and appreciate their sacrifice and risk. Show
For a while the United States’ idea of law enforcement was fairly loose. The Wild West was, well, wild. And most states and cities didn’t consider emergency services like firefighters and police officers to be necessary until much later than most would think. In the mid 1800s, most law enforcement was carried out in the form of posse comitatus, where the sheriff and a posse of volunteers and deputies (much like the stereotypical Westerns of the 1960s) would enforce laws rather than a centralized police force. Once the 20th century rolled around most larger cities, counties, and states had developed a centralized police or sheriff’s department. In doing so, most of the country slowly started to see a reduction in the “Wild West” and a more tame and domesticated America, despite many of the newly formed local authorities needing to pick sides in a rise of unionizing laborers going on strike. Whether its civil unrest, labor strikes, huge sporting events, or just helping a cat get down from a tree, law enforcement officers are a critical part of our lives, woven into the everyday fabric of living in America. They keep our neighborhoods safe and help ensure that whatever it is you need to do, you can do with peace of mind. National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was created by multiple organizations in 2015 to express their gratitude for officers in the United States. In support of their services citizens are encouraged to do their part in thanking the law enforcers on this day. One of the main organizations to take the lead in this is C.O.P.S – Concerns of Police Survivors. According to them, law enforcement officers need to be shown that the difficult career path they have chosen is recognized by the people who they protect and uphold the law for. This holiday was triggered by the chain of events in 2014, when a police officer was involved in a crossfire shooting in Missouri. The backlash and violence that followed this event led C.O.P.S to take the initiative to change this negative portrayal of police officers in the news in recent years into a positive one. With over 900,000 officers in the United States, the organization believes it is essential to support law enforcers during difficult times, and a holiday dedicated to them does just that. The day also raises awareness on the importance of understanding that the difficult decisions taken by police officers are in the best interest of citizens and the law.
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day timeline1844 Policing a Very Large Apple New York City is the first American city to establish a municipal police force. 1857 Detecting a Change Once again, New York leads the way with adopting the first detective unit. 1905 Something NYC Didn't Win Pennsylvania becomes the first state to establish a state police force, as recommended by Theodore Roosevelt to help control the numerous labor riots going on in the state's hill country. 1920s The West Coast Catches Up Berkeley, California's police force gets ahead of the curve by adopting centralized and consistent training, communications, and order throughout its police force. As the name suggests, the tradition on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is to express gratitude to your local law enforcement. People wear blue clothing in solidarity with police officers, write a letter or send a card to the local police department, share their positive experiences with law enforcers on social media, and abide strictly by the law as respect for their services. On the state and federal levels, a number of honorary ceremonies and award distributions are held for police officers and rangers. 2.5 million – The number of residents who celebrated National Night Out with local law enforcement. 292 – The number of officers in the United States Mint Police. 46 – The number of officers feloniously killed in 2017 708,569 – The all-time-high number of law enforcement officers, which was in 2008. 626,942 – The lowest number of law enforcement officers, which was in 2013. ⅓ – The amount of a police officer’s time that is spent on enforcing criminal law 9 – The number of female police officers were killed in the line of duty in 2017 National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day FAQsWhen is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day?How do I celebrate National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day?There are many ways you can celebrate National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, even just by thanking a police officer for their service. Why do we celebration National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day?We celebrate National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day to show support for the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect and serve their communities. National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Activities
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