On the recordMay 15, 2018
there is no more noble sacrifice than laying down your life in the service of others. Every year, more than a million law enforcement officers work to keep our country safe and to serve the needs of our communities. Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line as they fight crime, and each year, law enforcement officers die in the line of duty. Many of these deaths occur while these officers are investigating crimes and enforcing our laws. Some are even the result of targeted violence against police officers. Other deaths involve tragic accidents, such as Sheriff's Deputy Julie Bridges and Sergeant Joseph Ossman--two police officers who were killed in a traffic accident while working to help their communities weather the onslaught of Hurricane Irma. On Friday, I spoke at the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony in Des Moines, where we honored six law enforcement officers from Iowa who lost their lives in the line of duty. It was my honor to pay tribute to these brave Iowa heroes, along with their families. Losing members of our law enforcement leaves a hole in families and communities that no one else can fill, but we can honor them and remember them and work to support the efforts of other law enforcement officers who carry on their mission, officers who, despite the risks and the rigors of their work, work tirelessly to protect and serve their communities.…





