HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 National Police Week-Peace Officers Day Proclamation �.�M9RgEh
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OFFICE OF SELECTMEN
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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 fails,May 12 to 18,2019,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 2018,the officers responded to 8,092 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 BOARD OF SELECTMEN of the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts do hereby proclaim the
week of May 12 to 18,2019 as:
Nationa[Police -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
Wednesday,May 15,2019 as:
Peace Officers Vemoria(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.
IN WITN4DOUGLA
OF, e have set our hands and caused the seal of Lexingt to be affixed rewith n the 29th of April
2019.
CENTE,CHAIRMAN sUZA E^ BARRY
J EPH PATO JILL I.
MARk D.SANDEEN