Police Week 2019 - Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation that designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which it falls as National Police Week. This symbolic act would set into motion a tradition, bringing together tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the globe to honor those who pay the ultimate sacrifice.

The week kicked off on Sunday, May 12, with the annual Police Unity Tour, a 250-mile bicycle ride that raises awareness and support for fallen law enforcement officers and their families. That same evening, the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) hosted the annual Top Cops Dinner in recognition of the heroes in law enforcement from agencies across the country. Top Cops are nominated by fellow officers for their actions above and beyond the call of duty during the preceding year, and each year, 10 cops are chosen for the award. These are just a few of the many events during the week paying tribute to those who have put their lives on the line in the name of the country.

At the 31st annual Candlelight Vigil on Monday, May 13, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund honored 371 U.S. law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty — 158 officers who were killed during 2018 and 213 officers from prior years who had not yet been honored. This year’s total continues to reflect the prolonged impacts that the search and recovery efforts of 9/11 had on responders. Eighty-seven of the officers who had their names engraved into the memorial have passed from illnesses related to Ground Zero.

“President Mick McHale with NAPO does a great job at Police Week, and it is always good to have a chance to see so many other cops gathering in one spot to catch up with long-standing friends. Participating in the Police Unity Bike Tour, seeing how far it has come and how much money we are raising in remembrance of fallen cops and their families will be a highlight for me and our large crew that makes it down from New Jersey every year that we can. We appreciate everyone who supports police and look forward to coming together again next year,” said Paul Nunziato, president of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association.

“Thanks to everyone who takes the time to tip their hats to cops during Police Week. We don’t take what we do for granted, and we will always honor memories and the sacrifice of our fallen,” said Marshall McClain, president of the Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association.

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The American Alliance of Airport Police Officers (AAAPO) is composed of rank-and-file airport police officers (including many dual police/aircraft rescue firefighters) who stand as the first line of defense against terrorist attacks, hijackings and other criminal activity at our nation’s airports. We seek to promote security and safety for the traveling public, visitors and airport employees by highlighting best practices and identifying areas for improvement and proposed solutions for our nation’s airport security deployment. AAAPO focuses on regulatory issues that promote our efforts to provide the most advanced and cutting-edge service innovations and security processes in our nation and the world. Our organization represents thousands of sworn law enforcement officers across the United States beholden only to this mission. We are unencumbered by neither political nor managerial constraints that would prevent us from promoting sound public safety policy.

The founding members of the American Alliance of Airport Police Officers are composed of numerous rank-and-file airport police officers from John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Van Nuys Airport, Stewart International Airport and Teterboro Airport.