Protecting the Palm Beaches – a tribute to those who serve and sacrifice
Bottom Line: This weekly feature is designed to recognize those who've paid the ultimate price to serve their communities and to serve as a reminder of what our police risk to keep us safe. We highlight a remarkable effort by local law enforcement each week. Joel Malkin brings you the perspective in local news from leaders in local law enforcement.
I bring you the unfortunate news you need to know:
- 128 police officers died in the line of duty in 2017
- 98 officers have fallen in 2018
- 9 of the officers we've lost served in Florida (most of any state in the country)
For the second consecutive week, I’m thrilled to report that I don’t have anything to report this week. Let’s pray that this is the start of an improved trend. Different but somewhat related is the renewed emphasis on Colin Kaepernick’s “message” on back of his new Nike deal. Numerous police organizations, including the National Police Organization, are protesting Nike’s decision to support Kaepernick's message which depicted police as pigs. Numerous law enforcement officials have attributed a lack of respect for police as catalyst for many of the attacks, including murders, of police offices over the past couple of years. It’s yet another reason as to why it’s important to support our police.
Too often there are untold stories of the people who've sacrificed their lives in service of their communities. This is our small part to attempt to recognize those who've sacrificed the most for our safety. The average age of the officers at the time of their death was 40. The average length of time they'd served at the time of their passing is 12 years and two months.
Remember to back the badge and spread the word. Media often aren't there for our law enforcement, but we can be. Let our police, and their families, know we support them every chance you get. They need it, now more than ever, just as we need them more than ever.