Photos of the Week: National Law Enforcement Day

National Today has a history of how National Law Enforcement Day came to be, “National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was created by multiple organizations in 2015 to express their gratitude for officers in the United States. In support of their services citizens are encouraged to do their part in thanking the law enforcers on this day. One of the main organizations to take the lead in this is C.O.P.S – Concerns of Police Survivors. According to them, law enforcement officers need to be shown that the difficult career path they have chosen is recognized by the people who they protect and uphold the law for.”

National Today continued, “This holiday was triggered by the chain of events in 2014, when a police officer was involved in a crossfire shooting in Missouri. The backlash and violence that followed this event led C.O.P.S to take the initiative to change this negative portrayal of police officers in the news in recent years into a positive one. With over 900,000 officers in the United States, the organization believes it is essential to support law enforcers during difficult times, and a holiday dedicated to them does just that. The day also raises awareness on the importance of understanding that the difficult decisions taken by police officers are in the best interest of citizens and the law.”

To view the timeline and to find out about Law Enforcement Days around the world, look at National Today’s page here. There are lots of ways to show your appreciation for LEOs on National Law Enforcement Day and every day!

• Wear blue
• Put blue lights in your home windows
• Post your support on social media
• Bring some delicious treats to your local LEOs
• Send thank you cards to your local officers and dispatchers
• Donate to LEO charities like LEORF
• Get creative and come up with your own ideas!