Village of Bluffton Proclamation, issued May 11, 2022.

To recognize National Police Week 2022 and to honor the service and sacrifice of those law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty while protecting our communities and safeguarding our democracy.

WHEREAS, there are more than 800,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Bluffton Police Department;

WHEREAS, there have been 60,000 assaults against law enforcement officers in 2021, resulting in over 18,188 injuries; 58 officers feloniously killed while on Duty;

WHEREAS, since the first recorded death in 1786, more than 22,600 law enforcement officers in the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice and died in the line of duty, including 3 members of the Bluffton Police Department;

WHEREAS, the names of these dedicated public servants are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC;

WHEREAS, 394 new names of fallen heroes are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this spring, including officers who died in 2021 and officers who died in previous years;

WHEREAS, the service and sacrifice of all officers who died in the line of duty will be honored during the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's 33rd Annual Candlelight Vigil, on the evening of May 15, 2022;

WHEREAS, the Annual Candlelight Vigil is part of National Police Week, which takes place this year on May 11-17. NOTE: events that will take place will be held virtually due to the limitations on public gatherings;

WHEREAS, May 15 is designated as Peace Officers Memorial Day, in honor of all fallen officers and their families and U.S. flags should be flown at half-staff;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Village of Bluffton, Ohio formally designated May 11-17, 2022, as Police Week in Bluffton, Ohio, and publicly salutes the service of law enforcement officers in our community and in communities across the nation.