On the recordJanuary 8, 2018
Tomorrow, January 9, is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. It is a time to celebrate everything that our law enforcement men and women do for our communities. While it is important to appreciate their courage and bravery, it is also a time to honor them and thank them for their service. Every single day, police officers go to work not knowing what dangers may lie ahead of them while on the job. They put their lives on the line with a mission to both serve and protect. By the way, these law enforcement personnel are our friends, our neighbors, and even family members. Last year, 128 police officers lost their lives defending the thin blue line. One of them was Officer Bill Mathews of Wayzata, Minnesota. He was certainly well known and part of the fabric of the community. He is missed not only by a loving family--his wife, Shawn, and son, Wyatt--but also by those he worked with and the residents he served while on patrol in neighborhoods. Mr. Speaker, those who serve in law enforcement will often say it is a calling, and we honor that calling of service on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. ____________________
