Tuesday afternoon Bremen Police Chief Matt Hassel hosted department’s National Peace Officers Memorial Celebration.
Chief Hassel gave a brief history of the national event. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a Public Law designating May 15 as National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day. The first National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day Service was held in Washington D.C. on May 15, 1982. In 1994 President Bill Clinton amended the law directing that the flag of the United States be displayed at half-staff on all government buildings on May 15 each year.
National Police Officer Memorial Week was created to honor fallen law enforcement officers through out the United States. In 2014 approximately 127 federal, state and local law enforcement officers gave the supreme sacrifice and were killed in the line of duty. On average 140 – 160 law enforcement officers are killed in the line of duty every year. To date this year there have been 44 police officers killed in the line of duty. Also in 2014 there were 20 Police K-9’s killed in the line of duty.
Chief Hassel said, “Members of the Bremen Police Department play an essential role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms of Bremen citizens. They serve the people by safeguarding life and property, protecting them against violence and disorder. They protect the innocent against deception and the week against oppression. They unceasingly provide a vital public service.”
The Bremen Police Department has lost one officer in the line of duty, Tony Swartzlander in 1981 and a second officer, Chad Beeson who was off duty at the time of his death in 2003.
The ceremony included a Bremen Town Council Proclamation by Council President Michael Leman, the National Anthem sung by elementary student Cora Callander, a presentation by Department Chaplin Jordan Muck, Bremen High School Senior Brooke Bahr who played the guitar and sang Amazing Grace and Taps by Carl Grebe.
The event was sponsored by the Bremen Chamber of Commerce.
