National Police Week marked downtown Mansfield Monday morning
National Police Week was observed downtown Monday with a 21-gun salute by the Mansfield police Honor Guard.
A bagpiper played "Amazing Grace" from Central Park as a small crowd gathered at the police memorial in front of the Richland County Prosecutor's Office.
The Mansfield Police Department is observing National Police Week through Wednesday, and Peace Officers Memorial Day on Wednesday.
In recognition of law enforcement officers in Mansfield and throughout the country, the U.S. Congress designated the special week. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation that designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Recognizing, remembering those who gave their lives
Mansfield police Chief Jason Bammann said the department asks residents remember the families of Mansfield police officers who gave their lives to protect others in Richland County: Brian D. Evans, killed Dec. 26, 2007; Michael R. Hutchison, killed Feb. 6, 1976; William J. Taylor, killed Feb. 26, 1949, and John Englehart Jr., killed Aug. 7, 1893.
At 9 a.m. the police Honor Guard participated in a second ceremony honoring the fallen officers from the Mansfield Police Department on the second floor of the Mansfield Municipal Building, concluding with a reading of the Police Week Proclamation.
As a reminder, flags on all federal buildings will fly at half-staff Wednesday, commemorating Police Officers Memorial Day.
In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed a law P.L. 103-322, requiring the American flag to be lowered on this day as a tribute to the more than 24,280 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The only other regularly scheduled day that the flags fly at half-staff is Memorial Day.
"Like those in our armed services, our fallen law enforcement officers died while protecting the lives and freedoms of others," Bammann said.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: National Police Week marked downtown Mansfield Monday morning
