FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BCPD, other agencies, to observe Law Enforcement Appreciation Day BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Area policing agencies — including the Battle Creek Police Department — will join others across the country on Friday to promote the first Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. The FBI National Academy Associates Inc. and other organizations that support officers are calling on the nation’s citizens also to support law enforcement officers, particularly in light of recent negativity directed at officers after the shooting incidents in Ferguson, Mo. and elsewhere. Citizens are encouraged to thank police officers for their work, wear blue clothing in support of officers, send a card of support to their local law enforcement agency, share stories about positive law enforcement experiences on social media and more. Locally, Battle Creek Police Chief Jim Blocker and other Calhoun County law enforcement leaders will join Richard Piet on the WBCK 95.3 FM morning show on Friday from 8:05 to 8:30 a.m. Other participants are Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert, County Sheriff Matthew Saxton, Emmett Township Director of Public Safety Mike Olson, Marshall Director of Public Safety James Schwartz, Albion Chief of Public Safety Scott Kipp, and First Lt. James Coleman of the Michigan State Police, Coldwater Post. “We’re going to talk about the day and share our appreciation for our officers, deputies and troopers, as well as our supportive community,” Blocker said. According to the Washington-based National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the number of officers shot to death in the line of duty is up more than 50 percent this year. There were 50 officers killed by guns in 2014, up from 32 the previous year. Of those, 15 were killed in ambush-style attacks. Incidents nearby in recent years include the death in December of Ingham County Sheriff Deputy Grant Whitaker, who died in a crash during a vehicle pursuit; and Michigan State Police Trooper Paul Butterfield, of the Hart Post, who was shot and killed during a 2013 traffic stop. For more information contact: Major Jim Grafton, (269) 966-3324
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:09:30 +0000
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