It’s Police Week! 4 Ways to Show Support
Date:Sunday April 25, 2021
National Police Week began in 1962 as a way to honor those who have lost their lives while serving in law enforcement and for survivors and police officers to gather for solidarity and to gain resources and support. Over the years, this week in May has become important to tens of thousands of participants, with in-person events drawing between 25,000 and 40,000 attendees. This year, to be cautious, virtual events will take place in May with an in-person experience planned for October.
If you are a police officer or a member of a first responder agency who work closely with law enforcement, you can help them commemorate this week in May by acknowledging their contributions and recognizing the ways in which police officers protect our communities. Here are some simple ways to show support.
Join Them in Remembering the Fallen
Police Week may be more dear to the hearts of some of your colleagues or inter-agency partners than to others, so check and see if anyone is already putting together events or asking for support in organizing a vigil of some kind. Being the kind of colleague who helps create and attend such events shows support and a recognition of the sacrifices that police officers make.
Share Stories of Police Officers’ Commitment and Honor
Whether on your own personal social media page or through your workplace communication channels, like newsletters, see if you can share some stories from places like the Officer Down Memorial Page or from local heroes who have lost their lives while working in law enforcement. Even asking an individual police officer if they are willing to talk about their colleague can be a great way to honor them through your listening and acknowledgement of their lives and impact.
Advocate For Strong Mental Health Resources for Police Officers
Law enforcement and other first responders are still working to get the kind of mental health support they need after challenging, traumatic work situations. By being a voice for strong mental health resources for police officers in particular, you can be a good advocate but also a great colleague and friend.
Ask About All They’ve Gained From Participation in Police Week
If you know a police officer personally who has participated in the Police Week in-person experiences in the past, see if they’re willing to chat about all they learned while they were there, and what the week was like. Attending such a large gathering of law enforcement was likely very impactful, and getting to talk about it, even over lunch or a cup of coffee, can be part of acknowledging its importance in your colleague’s life.
Resources to Learn More and Share:
https://www.policeweek.org/index.html