District police officers honored
Uniontown Mayor Ed Fike said he was recently driving when he heard the blare of a siren and watched in his mirror as a city police cruiser weaved between vehicles rushing somewhere. Fike, curious as to what could possibly make an officer drive like that, later questioned police Chief Jason A. Cox about the incident.
Fike said that the chief’s response was simple but profound.
Fike said Cox told him that he also had responded to the same call that the mayor had seen the police officer answering. Fike, addressing a large crowd of Fayette County law enforcement officers at their annual appreciation luncheon Thursday, said Cox told him that while it didn’t end up amounting to much, other officers from the state police, Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and Uniontown Hospital also responded.
“The chief told me that they had an officer responding to a disturbance and the strain in his voice was evident over the radio. At one point, he said the word ‘help,'” Fike said. “Not only did all these other agencies respond without being called, but one of our officers who was off duty responded in his personal vehicle. So, the next time you see a police car come with lights and sirens, don’t judge them, rather pause and pray for them.”
Fike was one of several speakers to honor area police officers at the sixth annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by Fayette County Crime Stoppers at the Ivory Ballroom in Uniontown.
About 100 area law enforcement officers joined state and local leaders at the event where they were honored for their dedication to service and remembered those who have died in the line of duty.
Fike said that since taking office four months ago, he has seen the “tragedies and ungodly sights” that police officers see daily and has gained a newfound respect for them as a result.
“Our idea of a close friend is someone who will leave the house during a Pittsburgh Steelers game to help us with a flat tire … but these officers go to work every day with a bulletproof vest, a badge and a gun. They walk side-by-side into the valley of the shadow of death,” Fike said.
While the possibility of death is always in the minds of police officers, Megan McMullen of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund told the gathering Thursday that deaths in the line of duty for police officers are down 47 percent so far this year from last year’s totals.
McMullen said 181 officers were killed last year while doing their job.
McMullen, who was the guest speaker at the event, also spoke about the planned National Law Enforcement Officers Museum in Washington, D.C.
According to McMullen, the museum is slated for construction this fall, with a grand opening planned for 2011.
McMullen said the museum will be the first in the nation to solely focus on law enforcement and will include simulations for visitors to try their hand at maneuvering a police cruiser during a chase as well as simulations on gathering evidence. Additionally, the museum will feature historical items from policing throughout the centuries in the U.S. and how local law enforcement is affected by global threats of terrorism, drugs and weapons.
The museum will be built in downtown Washington, adjacent to the National Law Enforcement Memorial where the names of more than 18,000 officers who died while enforcing the law are engraved.
Also remembered at the luncheon was former Uniontown police Chief Ronald Machesky, who died last year after suffering a heart attack.
Darryl Smith of Fayette County Crime Stoppers said there is no greater service to the community than that of law enforcement officers.
“Words cannot express the debt of thanks that we owe you,” Smith said. “All police officers who make the ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
In addition to Fike, attending Thursday’s event were state Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Dunbar; Rep. Timothy Mahoney, D-South Union Township, and Deberah Kula, D-North Union Township.
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