VALOR Officer Safety Conference on September 17-18

On September 17-18, the VALOR Initiative will host an officer safety conference in Hurst, TX, providing officers with the opportunity to learn about varied topics including emerging threats and challenges, casualty care and rescue tactics, and pre-incident indicators of a potential assault. You can view the full, two-day agenda here.

Along with a wide array of law enforcement experts and researchers, Memorial Fund CEO Craig W. Floyd and Nick Breul, Director of Officer Safety and Wellness Initiative, will both be in attendance lending their expertise on the threats facing our officers. Additionally, there will be presentations by representatives from Dallas, who were recipients of our Destination Zero National Officer Safety and Officer Wellness Award in the category of officer safety for their trauma kits, and Yolo County, CA S.O who won in the traffic safety category for reducing at fault vehicle crashes.

Since the inception of the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) VALOR Initiative in 2010, a total of 153 VALOR officer safety training sessions have been conducted, impacting over 19,000 law enforcement officers. The training continues to be positively received by officers across the country.

There is no registration fee for this conference, but space is limited. Enrollment is reserved for currently sworn law enforcement personnel. Federal registrants will be placed on a wait list pending availability. Register today.

IHIA Symposium Lays Wreath at Memorial

Attendees of the 2015 International Homicide Investigators Association symposium in Washington, DC, gathered at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on the evening of Tuesday, August 18, to lay a wreath in honor of the more than 20,000 law enforcement officers whose names are on the Memorial walls.

Memorial Fund Chairman and CEO Craig Floyd welcomed the guests and spoke of the annual candlelight vigil ceremony held at the Memorial during National Police Week in May, a tradition since the Memorial was dedicated in 1991. He also shared a story about the special guest and keynote speaker for the second candlelight vigil in 1992, radio host Paul Harvey.

“I picked him up that day at the airport and I brought him to the Memorial,” Floyd started, “and I walked along the west wall behind me until I got to panel 60W, Line 18. And as we were walking, he became impatient, and he said, ‘Craig, where is his name?’ His father, Harry Aurandt, had been shot and killed in December of 1921, when Paul Harvey was three years old. Paul Harvey’s father’s name is proudly inscribed on these Memorial walls, along with more than 20,000 others.

“And when I finally pointed to his name on that wall, Paul Harvey, a world-renowned gentleman who, at that time, was in his seventies, got down on his knees. He touched his father’s name and began sobbing. It touched him to see his nation had not forgotten his father after all these years, that his story would continue to be told at these Memorial grounds.”

Minnesota Twins Host Inaugural Law Enforcement Night

On Saturday, August 15, on a very hot and humid night in the Twin Cities, the Minnesota Twins took on the Cleveland Indians at Target Field in downtown Minneapolis. A crowd of over 30,000 was on hand to support and cheer the Twins on to another win as they beat the Indians with a final score of 4-1. This raised their record to 58-58 and the Twins are currently in 2nd place in the American League Central Division.

Another win on Saturday was for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). The NLEOMF partnered with the Twins and hosted their inaugural law enforcement night. Over 300 law enforcement professionals, families and supporters from the Twin Cities and the State of Minnesota came out to support this special event.

The night featured a pre-game ceremony which recognized Sheriff Brad Peterson of the Minnesota Sheriffs Association as the longest serving sheriff in Minnesota, as well as President Hugo McPhee of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association and President Susan Mayerle of the Minnesota Concerns Of Police Survivors Chapter.

Fans were also treated to a special law enforcement public service announcement and tribute video from NBC sportscaster Bob Costas.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul (MN) Airport Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors during the National Anthem.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund would like to thank everyone who attended, with special thanks to Luis Breazeale and the entire Minnesota Twins Group Sales Team, Minnesota Twins Security Department, the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, Minnesota Sheriffs Association, Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police and the Minnesota COPS.

Plans are already underway for another Twins Law Enforcement Night game in 2016. Join us this winter in Minneapolis as we team up with the Minnesota Wild for a night of hockey and law enforcement.

More information on future events can be found at www.lawmemorial.org/sports.