After a week of rain, the skies opened up on Monday morning for a reveille ceremony in front of the 72nd Air Base Wing Headquarters to kick off Police Week.
“Every May during police week we pause and honor and respect the sacrifice and service of law enforcement across the United States, and more importantly we pause specifically to show respect for those who have given their life in the line of duty,” 72nd ABW Commander Col. Kenyon Bell said during the ceremony.
Peace Officers Memorial Day, which later evolved into Police Weekin 1982, was initiated through signed proclamation by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 to pay tribute to local, state and federal law enforcement officers who serve and protect their communities with courage and dedication.
“When we think about what our defenders do and compare it to law enforcement there’s a slight difference,” Bell said. “It’s inside the fence line versus outside dealing with the general populous. But, it’s no less important. Here within the last few years we’ve had some significant intrusions to the base in which defenders have had to react and defenders have had to make split-second decisions in order to protect the people and the resources within Tinker Air Force Base.”
Following the reveille Monday, an event took place at the Base Exchange that included weapons and tactical vehicle displays, and a K-9 and Taser demonstration. This event provided the community an opportunity to see what officers on Tinker do up close.
“Community law enforcing is much more appropriate and a lot easier if we can bring people in and show them what we’re doing,” Master Sgt. Major Sizemore with 72nd Security Forces said. “Nothing’s a mystery. They can even hold our weapons to see what it’s like to carry one throughout the day.”
Other events that took place throughout the week to bring awareness to what Tinker’s law enforcement does included a bowling and golf tournament, as well as a memorial service to honor officers and K-9s killed in the line of duty throughout the past year.
“I think this week is important because when you do a thankless job, which is what a lot of this is, don’t expect a pat on the back, this is the only time of year we get recognition,” Sizemore said. “Nobody likes working the gate or checking ID cards, nobody seems to appreciate that except the folks that are immediately there …. We don’t have the cool jobs on the aircraft, we’re still first responders.”
More photos from this year’s Police Week will be published in next week’s edition of the Tinker Take Off.