National Police Week 2018

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. BreeAnn Sachs
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs

Members of Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., honored fallen civilian and military law enforcement officers during National Police Week, on May 13-19.

Congress established National Police Week in 1962 under the direction of former President John F. Kennedy to honor law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

This year’s recognition week consisted of a variety of events including an opening ceremony, breakfast with local civilian law enforcement partners, a three-day shooting competition, various memorial workouts and a retreat ceremony at Heritage Park.

“Throughout the week, activities were held to bring together on-and off-base law enforcement members in the spirit of camaraderie and competition,” said Lt. Col. David Mays, 49th Security Forces Squadron commander. “All activities were open to both state and federal law enforcement officers to increase our continued need to work together in protection of our communities and residents.”

Police Week also brought the 49th SFS closer together. Each morning squadron members joined for a themed workout in honor of fallen security forces members.

“It is extremely important to immortalize those who fall in the service of our nation,” said Staff Sgt. Zachary Denecke, 49th SFS electronic security systems non-commissioned officer in charge. “It honors their memory and the sacrifices they made for all of us.”

Denecke organized a workout to specifically honor the Hustler 6 tragedy. On Dec. 21, 2015, two security forces members and four Office of Special Investigations agents were killed outside of Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. The fallen members included Special Agent Adrianna Vorderbruggen, Special Agent Chester McBride, Special Agent Peter Taub, Special Agent Michael Cinco, Tech. Sgt. Joseph Lemm and Staff Sgt. Louis Bonacasa.

“I worked with Lemm and Bones when I was stationed at a previous base, and I knew McBride before he became an OSI agent,” said Denecke. “It is extremely important to immortalize those who fall in the service of our nation because it honors their memory and the sacrifices they made for all of us.”

We must never forget the sacrifices our law enforcement officers make every day.

“Unfortunately, due to the nature of our profession, police officers are required to make arrests and issue citations,” said Mays. “As you might imagine, this isn’t always appreciated by those receiving. After all, who likes getting pulled over? Being a police officer is much more than making arrests and tickets. Police officers risk their lives on a daily basis to preserve the safety and security of all Americans.”