2021 National Police Week-Peace Officers Memorial Day Proclamation

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f - Town of lexington, Iftoarbuzetw t, M SELECT BOARD OFFICE AM tr A NC, PROCLAMATION Whereas: the Congress and President of the United States have designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day,and the week in which May 15th falls,May 9 to 15,2021,as National Police Week;and Whereas: it is important that all citizens know and understand the duties, responsibilities, hazards and sacrifices of law enforcement agencies and that law enforcement personnel recognize their duty to serve the people by safeguarding life and property,by protecting them against violence and disorder,and by protecting the innocent against deception and the weak against oppression;and Whereas: the 50 officers of the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts Police Department play an essential role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Lexington and in fiscal year 2020,the officers responded to 13,749 calls for service;and Whereas: since the first recorded death in 1791,more than 20,000 law enforcement officers in the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice and have been killed in the line of duty including Lexington Police Officer James J.Hodgdon,III who died on November 4, 1967 at the age of 23 following an automobile accident;and Whereas: Lexington Police Officer James J.Hodgdon,III name is engraved both on the wall of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington,D.C.,and on the Town of Lexington,Massachusetts Police Department Memorial Monument;and Whereas: the men and women of the Town of Lexington,Massachusetts Police Department provide a vital a public service. NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE SELECT BOARD of the Town of Lexington,Massachusetts do hereby proclaim the week of May 9 to 15,2021 as Wational Pol"ice -Week in the Town of Lexington,Massachusetts and encourage all citizens to join us in recognizing law enforcement officers,past and present,who,by their faithful and loyal devotion to their responsibilities,have rendered a dedicated service to their community and,in so doing,have established for themselves an enviable and enduring reputation for preserving the rights and security of all citizens. BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED that we call upon all citizens of the Town of Lexington,Massachusetts to observe Saturday, May 15,2021 as Peace Officers Memorial-Day and authorize the American Flag on the Lexington Battle Green to be lowered to half-staff as directed by the President of the United States for the day in honor of those law enforcement officers who,through their courageous deeds,have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community or have become disabled in the performance of duty,and let us recognize and pay respect to the survivors of our fallen heroes. 20 WITNESS REOF,we have set our hands and caused the seal of Lexington to be affixed herewith on the 26"'of April 2021. � J JILL I.H CR Jos PATO M AM ZANNE E ARRY OUGLA CENTE MARK D.SANDEEN