SFS hosts Police Week activities

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Members of the 66th Security Forces Squadron here will host events May 14 through 18 in recognition of National Police Week.

National Police Week pays special recognition to federal and local law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

“Many of the events held locally will be to remember the 14 Defenders who lost their lives in the line of duty since 9/11, including our own Senior Airmen Kcey Ruiz and Nathan Sartain, who died in Afghanistan in 2015,” said Staff Sgt. Laura Crawford, 66 SFS Police Week co-organizer. “We never want to forget their service and sacrifice to our nation.”

Local Police Week events will begin with an opening ceremony at Hanscom Memorial Park on May 14 at 9 a.m. At 11 a.m., Air Force Office of Special Investigations will host a three-mile ruck march beginning at the same location. Both events are open to the entire base community.

For further information on the opening ceremony or ruck march, contact Staff Sgt. Brittany Gorbe at 781-225-6593.

A kickball tournament will take place May 15 at 10 a.m. at the softball field by the enlisted dorms. The cost to participate is $5 per person or $30 per team (maximum of six players). For further information about this event, or to register, which organizers request, contact Staff Sgt. Tyler Kliss at 781-225-5633.

“Proceeds from this event, as well as the funds from remembrance shirts being sold, will be donated to the National Fallen Officers Memorial,” said Kliss, 66 SFS Police Week co-organizer.

On Wednesday, May 16 at 11 a.m., SFS personnel will host a military working dog and combat arms demonstration at the softball field by the enlisted dorms.

“This event will include involvement from our local law enforcement partners,” said Staff Sgt. Kory Pelletier, 66 SFS Police Week co-organizer. “In addition to our military working dog teams, Massachusetts State Police K-9 teams will participate in the demo.”

During the MWD and combat arms demonstration, Hanscom Police Services will record fingerprints for children as part of the National Child Identification Program. In addition, 66th Medical Squadron dental technicians will offer tooth print impressions for children.

“These are great tools for parents to have at their disposal as child identification measures,” said Pelletier.

On Thursday, May 17, SFS personnel will host the third-annual 24-Hour End of Watch Memorial Run at the base track in memory of those who gave their life in the line of duty. All Team Hanscom members are welcome to participate in the 24-Hour End of Watch Memorial Run, including families.

For further information about this event, contact Pelletier at 781-225-5628.

To close out Police Week activities, members of the base community are welcome to attend a closing ceremony at the Hanscom POW/MIA Memorial on Barksdale Street May 18 at 3:00 p.m. The guest speaker for this event is Chief A. Kevin Kennedy, Lincoln, Mass.

“We’re honored to have Chief Kennedy from the Lincoln Police Department closing our ceremony,” said Crawford. “Our relationship with neighboring departments is important.”

According to www.PoliceWeek.org, the national website dedicated to the weeklong observance, Police Week began in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week that follows as Police Week.