Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph –
In recognition of National Police Week, Joint Base San
Antonio security forces squadrons remembered colleagues and law enforcement
officers killed in the line of duty at a ceremony May 17 at JBSA-Randolph
Heritage Park.
The ceremony held on JBSA Police Awareness Day was hosted by
the 902nd Security Forces Squadron at JBSA-Randolph and included members from
the 343rd Training Squadron and 802nd Security Forces Squadron, both from
JBSA-Lackland.
Senior Airman Timothy Hobson, 902nd SFS police services NCO
in charge and co-coordinator for JBSA Police Awareness Day, said the ceremony
was a remembrance to those law enforcement officers who have died in the line
of duty while also recognizing the day-to-day contributions of JBSA security
forces squadrons and area law enforcement departments.
The ceremony included introductory remarks by Maj. Julia
Jefferson, 902nd SFS commander, and speeches by William Pue, City of Live Oak
assistant police chief, and Chief Master Sgt. Mark Hammack, 343rd TRS
Security Forces Academy chief enlisted manager.
Jefferson said a proclamation signed by President John F.
Kennedy in 1962 designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week
in which that date falls as National Police Week.
“National Police Week pays special recognition to those law
enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the
safety and protection of others,” Jefferson said. “National Police Week is a
collaborative effort of many organizations across the nation dedicated to
honoring America’s law enforcement community throughout the week.”
Pue said 133 police officers died in the line of duty in
2015 and 35 so far this year. Since 1791, Pue said records indicate more than
22,400 officers have lost their lives while serving.
Law enforcement officers who perished knew they were putting
themselves in danger but proceeded to do their duty anyway, Pue said.
“These are the heroes, knowing that danger, who unselfishly
put themselves in harm’s way to protect others,” Pue said. “We experience these
acts of heroism by our military and civilian law enforcement every day. They
keep our nation safe here and abroad.”
Hammack said security forces members and law enforcement
officers work with each other through mutual strength and shared resources. He
said those same things can help both military and civilian law enforcement
officers get through both the visible and invisible scars – physical and
psychological – they carry from their jobs.
“This awareness, a concerted effort to balance resiliency
continuously is the key to remaining focused and alert – to survive,” Hammack
said. “Thank you for honoring those with visible and maybe invisible scars,
whether it’s physically, psychologically or emotionally. We are proud of what
you do – stay strong.”
Samantha Ponton-McAfee, 902nd SFS entry controller, said she
was touched by the remarks given at the ceremony.
“It reminds you . . . it’s not just a job, it’s a passion
for people,” Ponton-McAfee said. “These aren’t people who are just going from a
9-to-5 job. These are people who are sacrificing their lives, livings and
family for something greater than themselves.”
Tech. Sgt. Seth Stockwell, 343rd TRS instructor supervisor
for the Security Forces Officer Course at JBSA-Lackland, wore a bracelet at the
ceremony in memory of Airman 1st Class Kcey Ruiz, an Air Force security forces
member who died in a C-130 aircraft crash in October 2015 in Jalalabad,
Afghanistan. Stockwell was Ruiz’s instructor in technical school.
“It’s very humbling knowing I pushed her through school,”
Stockwell said. “I gave her all of the training she needed to be a successful
security forces member.”
Other activities at the ceremony included a K-9
demonstration put on by members of the 902nd SFS military working dog section
and a vehicle and weapons display. After the ceremony, JBSA security forces
members enjoyed food and the squadrons played against each other in a flag
football game.