Unveiling Day at the Memorial

Earlier today the name of Virginia Tech Police Officer Deriek Crouse was officially unveiled on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, along with the names of two other officers killed in the line of duty, Albany (GA) Police Officer Terry Mae Lewis-Flemming and Riverside (MO) Master Patrolman Jefferson Gerald Taylor.

Friends, family, and colleagues of Officer Crouse gathered to honor his service and sacrifice. Less than six months ago, Officer Crouse was shot and killed while he was administering a routine traffic stop on Virginia Tech's campus. He was 39-years old and left behind a wife, Tina, son, Dustin, and four step-children.

Officer Crouse formerly worked at the New River Valley Jail in Dublin, VA, the Montgomery County (VA) Sheriff’s Department and was a U.S. Army veteran.

In 2012, the names of 362 officers, including Officer Crouse, will be added to the Memorial walls, 163 names of officers killed in 2011 and 199 historical fatalities. All of the newly-engraved names will be formally dedicated on the Memorial during the 24th  Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, as part of the National Police Week observances.

News Coverage of Unveiling Day:
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/04/deriek-crouse-honored-75330.html 
http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj7-slain-virginia-tech-police-officers-name-added-to-national-memorial-20120426,0,219734.story
http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/307996

Law Enforcement Ambassador Spotlight: Corporal Cory Eslick, Anne Arundel County (MD) Police Department

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund enjoys the support of a special group of volunteers: Law Enforcement Ambassadors and Guardians. Law Enforcement Ambassadors are active and retired law enforcement officers from city, state, federal and military law enforcement agencies, while Law Enforcement Guardians are volunteers who support and honor law enforcement but are not sworn officers, allowing citizens, family members and corporate supporters to work closely with the Memorial Fund in achieving their goals.

This month we introduce you to Law Enforcement Ambassador Cory Eslick, a longtime supporter and friend of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. When he started visiting the Memorial early in his law enforcement career, Cory really started to grasp the significance of honoring the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice.


Law Enforcement Ambassador, Corporal Cory Eslick, Anne Arundel County (MD) Police Department

Embracing the Memorial Fund’s efforts to raise awareness about the enormous contributions of law enforcement officers everywhere, Cory reached out to the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles to begin to create a Maryland State License Plate bearing the Memorial Fund’s Rose & Shield logo. Today you can see vehicles all across the DC Metropolitan area with these special commemorative license plates. In addition to raising awareness and appreciation for America’s peace officers and the Memorial Fund, Cory’s program has generated more than $2,000 in donations.


Special Memorial Fund-branded Maryland License Plate



Cory is a great example of someone who seized the opportunity to help make a difference. We hope more supporters will follow his lead and get involved with the Memorial Fund’s efforts. And we thank Cory for his strong leadership and vision.

If you would like to contribute to the Memorial Fund's efforts in your own way, please contact John Shanks at 202.737.8529 or JShanks@nleomf.org.

Law Enforcement Guardian Spotlight: Elisa Santos

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund enjoys the support of a special group of volunteers: Law Enforcement Ambassadors and Guardians. Law Enforcement Ambassadors are active and retired law enforcement officers from city, state, federal and military law enforcement agencies, while Law Enforcement Guardians are volunteers who support and honor law enforcement but are not sworn officers, allowing citizens, family members and corporate supporters to work closely with the Memorial Fund in achieving their goals.

This month we introduce you to National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Guardian, Elisa Santos. Elisa and her husband, Colorado Springs Police Officer Isidro “Sid” Santos, are very active members of their community. In addition, Elisa has been an active member of the Memorial Fund’s Ambassador/Guardian program for the past four years. While she is not a law enforcement officer herself, Elisa is passionate about supporting the Memorial Fund and helping raise funds and awareness about the A Matter of Honor campaign to build the National Law Enforcement Museum, making her a perfect fit for the Guardian program.

Museum Guardian, Elisa Santos

When the Memorial Fund announced its efforts to join with major league sports teams for Law Enforcement Appreciation Events, Elisa immediately called and asked how she could help. There is not a major league sporting venue in Colorado Springs, but there is a minor league professional baseball team—the Colorado Sky Sox—and Elisa reached out to them to organize a Law Enforcement Appreciation Event to be held on May 6, 2012.

Elisa is a strong leader and dedicated volunteer. The Memorial Fund values her leadership and vision to the cause of honoring the service and sacrifice of our men and women in law enforcement.

If you would like to learn how you can organize a local sporting event to support the Memorial Fund and Museum, please contact John Shanks at 202.737.8529 or JShanks@nleomf.org. The Memorial Fund highly encourages our supporters to find your nearest Law Enforcement Appreciation Event and go to show your support. Hope to see you at an upcoming game!

Gearing up for National Police Week: Finalizing the Names

With about two months to go until National Police Week, the Memorial Fund’s Research Department has reached a crucial point for this year's engraving —they have tested the proof of the names laid out on the Memorial walls and made final changes to the placement.

Adding the names of fallen officers onto the Memorial is a process that starts long before names are engraved in the spring and formally dedicated on May 13th at the annual Candlelight Vigil. The Memorial Fund’s Research Department works year-round collecting records, running reports and intricately reviewing and approving names, leading up to Police Week.

After several meetings of the Memorial Fund’s Names Committee, comprised of representatives from the Board of Directors, the final list of names that will be engraved is sent to a type setter and to our engravers, who provide proofs of the names which are double and triple checked for spelling errors.

Research takes the proofs to the Memorial, to ensure the names fit on each of the panels on the east and west sides of the Memorial walls. Names of the officers are in no set order on the Memorial; placement generally depends on the length of a name and how it fits onto the width of the panel.

Last year, the engraving process was modified to improve the product of each name engraved.  The new process is more complex and requires that after each panel is engraved, it is stained twice and then allowed to cure for at least 72 hours (weather permitting). The panels cannot be exposed to the elements, nor can names be etched onto paper until the panel is completely cured.

When engraving begins in April, visit www.LawMemorial.org for updates on any potential panel or wall closures before visiting the Memorial.  The Memorial Fund apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause our visitors.

Law Enforcement Ambassador Spotlight: Brent Clark

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund enjoys the support of a special group of volunteers: Law Enforcement Ambassadors and Guardians. Law Enforcement Ambassadors are active and retired law enforcement officers from city, state, federal and military law enforcement agencies, while Law Enforcement Guardians are volunteers who support and honor law enforcement but are not sworn officers, allowing citizens, family members and corporate supporters to work closely with the Memorial Fund in achieving their goals.


This month, we honor Law Enforcement Ambassador Brent Clark, who has been an Ambassador for the past four years. Not only has Brent volunteered countless hours during National Police Week and throughout the year, he works closely with our staff to coordinate our Law Enforcement Appreciation events with professional sports teams across the country.



Brent Clark with Vincent D’Onofrio at 2011 Ambassador Reception

Brent is an active federal law enforcement agent. Originally from Michigan, he has been assigned to the New York City area, but is currently back in Michigan on special assignment. Brent not only volunteers his personal time and energy to support the mission of the Memorial Fund and Museum, he is also a personal donor to the “A Matter of Honor” Campaign to build the National Law Enforcement Museum.

Brent has volunteered countless hours outside of National Police Week and was responsible for making the November 2011 – Detroit Red Wings Law Enforcement Appreciation Night a great success. Brent worked closely with Memorial Fund staff, the Detroit Red Wings and Michigan law enforcement to organize the event, which raised over $18,000 for the Museum campaign.

Brent is currently working with the Detroit Tigers to organize another Law Enforcement Appreciation Night which will be held on April 19, 2012 at Comerica Park. Ten dollars of every Law Enforcement Appreciation Night ticket will be donated to the Museum campaign and ticket buyers will receive a limited edition Memorial Fund/Detroit Tigers challenge coin.

Brent Clark was also instrumental in helping the Museum acquire a steel beam from the World Trade Center after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He is an honored member of the Memorial Fund’s extended family and we recognize, with gratitude, his service and leadership to our country and our organization.

Interested in becoming an Ambassador/Guardian? Visit http://www.nleomf.org/contribute/ambassadors/.

Law Enforcement Ambassador Spotlight: D. Michael Kruggel

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is comprised of a special group of volunteers:   Law Enforcement Ambassadors and Guardians. Law Enforcement Ambassadors are active and retired law enforcement officers from city, state, federal and military law enforcement agencies. Law Enforcement Guardians are volunteers who support and honor law enforcement but are not sworn officers,  allowing citizens, family members and corporate supporters to work closely with the Memorial Fund in achieving their goals.

This blog is the first in a new series designed to highlight the many contributions of our Law Enforcement Ambassadors and Guardians. Interested in becoming an Ambassador/Guardian? Visit http://www.nleomf.org/contribute/ambassadors/.

This month, we honor Law Enforcement Ambassador D. Michael (Mike) Kruggel, who has been an Ambassador for the past four years.  Not only has Mike volunteered countless hours during National Police Week and throughout the year, he has also recruited his two sons, Jason and Michael, as volunteers. 

Mike is a retired police officer from southern California who now resides in Tennessee.  He is the Founder and CEO of the Office of Special Investigations, LLC, a provider of investigation services throughout the United States and a $25,000 donor to the “A Matter of Honor” Campaign to build the National Law Enforcement Museum.

Craig W. Floyd, Chairman & CEO of the Memorial Fund with Ambassador Mike Kruggel and his son.

Mike’s volunteer leadership spans the entire year, frequently stopping by the Memorial offices to lend a hand.  During National Police Week, Mike and his sons can be found at the Memorial helping surviving family members and officers find names on the wall or assisting customers and stocking shelves at the Retail Center. 

Mike Kruggel is an honored member of the Memorial Fund’s extended family and we recognize, with gratitude, his service and leadership to our organization.

In Memory of K-9 Maggie Sheridan, Louisa County (VA) Sheriff's Office

In December 2011, K-9 Maggie Sheridan, an American Kennel Club registered black and tan Bloodhound of the Louisa County (VA) Sheriff's Office, was killed while tracking a suicidal subject. As she neared the suspect's home, a pit bull attacked and bit her; she later died as a result of an infection from the bites.

Maggie's handler, Lt. Patrick Sheridan said, "Maggie was a gem. It takes a lot of training and the right handler, but the results and the benefits of that are just priceless."

According to The Charlottesville NewsPlex, Maggie worked a total of 348 cases in her career. Below is a special tribute video in Maggie's honor.

K9 Maggie from Richard MacDonald on Vimeo.

Visit the tribute page devoted to Maggie on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/In-Memory-of-LCSO-K-9-Maggie/252842458111355