"It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived."
-Vivian Eney Cross, Survivor
Each May during National Police Week the nation pauses to recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. law enforcement. National Police Week concludes today, May 21, 2011. Photos from the National Candlelight Vigil can be seen here.
Established in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy and a joint resolution of Congress, National Police Week pays special tribute to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. Ceremonies are held in Washington, DC, and in communities across the country. During the ceremonies in Washington, DC, the names of those peace officers killed in the line of duty will be enrolled onto the National Memorial.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Dedicated on October 15, 1991, the Memorial honors federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our nation and its people.
The Memorial features two curving, 304-foot-long blue-gray marble walls. Carved on these walls are the names of more than 18,600 officers who have been killed in the line of duty throughout U.S. history, dating back to the first known death in 1792. Unlike many other memorials in Washington, DC, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is ever-changing: new names of fallen officers are added to the monument each spring, in conjunction with National Police Week.
For more information about the National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial Fund and Police Week, please visit NLEOMF and NLEOMF Police Week.
California honored its fallen officers on May 1st and 2nd. Their names can be read here and photos from prior ceremonies can be found here. The Sacramento Bee has posted a gallery of this year’s ceremony. For more information about the California Peace Officers’ Memorial, please visit their website.
The Los Alamitos Police Department wants to make you aware of an ongoing scam that is primarily targeting senior citizens.
The scam involves the suspect calling the victim on the telephone and falsely identifying themselves as a relative of the victim, usually a son or grandson. The caller is able to trick the victim because he addresses the victim by name, usually obtaining the name through some legal source. The caller may also address the victim by relation, as in “grandpa” or “grandma.”
The suspect caller tells the victim that they have been arrested and need the victim to send money to help them get out of jail. The suspect usually instructs the victim to send the money via wire transfer, Western Union, or cashiers check. The suspect further tells the victim to not tell anyone else about this problem because he is too embarrassed to let anyone else know.
The Los Alamitos Police Department strongly urges that if you receive a similar phone call, you should take steps to verify the circumstances. You can accomplish this by either calling the number you have on record for that relative, calling the police agency where the relative claims to have been arrested, or even calling the Los Alamitos Police Department to assist you in verifying the information. We are aware of at least one victim in our City and the police have been contacted by others who have received these telephone calls. Conduct an Internet search for “Grandma I’m in Jail” and you will see this scam has occurred in many jurisdictions.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the Los Alamitos Police Department for assistance. It is important to avoid being victimized in the first place and to prevent the transfer of money. Often the source of these scams is overseas, out of the reach of United States law enforcement and accountability.
Submitted by J. Goldmark, West Cities Police Communications (West-Comm)
The Los Alamitos Police Department is confident that students, parents, and concerned community members take seriously the public safety issues involved with underage drinking and with driving under the influence.
In support, every other year the Los Alamitos Police Department collaborates with the Youth Center and other community groups and agencies to present the program, Every 15 Minutes. The program presents these issues in an immersive and powerful way. To find out more about the program, visit their website or the Youth Center’s website.
You can view a 15 minute video illustrating this year’s program posted at the top of this article.
Every 15 Minutes
http://www.every15minutes.com/
The Youth Center
Due to recent International events and activity, the Los Alamitos Police Department would like to make you aware of two important sources of information that can assist you while making decisions that impact your safety.
The National Terrorism Advisory System, or NTAS (which replaces the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS)), more effectively communicates information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the public, government agencies, first responders, airports and other transportation hubs, and the private sector.
NTAS recognizes that Americans all share responsibility for the nation's security, and should always be aware of the heightened risk of terrorist attack in the United States and what they should do. You can sign up to receive these alerts via email, Facebook, or Twitter directly from the US Department of Homeland Security at the link below.
http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/ntas.shtm
Before embarking on International travel, you can also visit the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs and check for the latest travel advisories. You can view these at the link below.
Be Safe. Be Prepared.