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actually glows at the end of the Vigil, when all attendees hold up candles to pay tribute to the fallen officers, which this year included Chicago Police Officers Bernie Domagala and Andre Ven Vegten, who succumbed in 2017 to catastrophic injuries suffered more than 20 years earlier.
The Vigil also sheds a guiding light for officers, who get a sense of how important they are to their communities. This came in a message from Attorney General Jeff Sessions that rec- ognized, reinforced and honored the work of law enforcement.
On this night, Sessions asked rhetorically, “What is that job – that profession you’ve give your life to?”
And he answered:
“It is to place your badge, your skills and even your lives be- tween the righteous and dutiful Americans and the predators that threaten them.”
Following a standing ovation, the attorney general added:
“I believe it is one of my highest callings to bring attention to your successes and encourage your fellow citizens to support you in your demanding and difficult work.”
The culminating event at Police Week is the National Peace Officers Memorial, and the culmination came with a speech from President Trump during which he reminded that he is the “law and order president.” National FOP President Chuck Can- terbury introduced Trump with a verbal embrace that empha- sized the mutual respect and honor that has grown between the organization and the administration.
The president then chirped some very Trumpian remarks,
an Ramirez, an officer in 025, makes his
first visit to National Police Week this year.
including a comment about sanctuary cities that stated: “We have a catch-and-release program. We catch them and release them in the country they came from.”
And then Trump honored law enforcement with remarks that have gone from being his stump speech to his way of doing business:
“If we want to bring down violent crime, then we must stand up for our police,” he shouted. “I have directed the Justice De- partment to do everything in its power to defend American law enforcement. We’re not going to let bad things happen to our police.”
Here was the reinforcement to fully comprehend what hap- pens at National Police and why all officers want to come. And come back. You pay your respects, and you get respect. d
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40 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JUNE 2018