Gloucester Township Police Chief Delivers Police Week Message

Gloucester Township, NJ -- Gloucester Township Police Chief Harry Earle delivered the following message for National Peace Officers Memorial Day, celebrated on May 15, to honor law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty:

Gloucester Township Police Officers cover their badges with mourning bands (on May 15) in honor of not only the 123 police officers who were killed in the line of duty in 2015, but all of the men and women of law enforcement who have ever given their lives while protecting and serving others.

I am so proud of the members of the Gloucester Township Police Department for their professionalism, dedication, and their sacrifice in making the Gloucester Township community even safer. Fifteen Gloucester Township Police Officers were assaulted while performing their duties in the year 2015 and it is because of their continued sacrifices that we have experienced a dramatic 35% reduction in crime from 2010 to 2015. In addition to making arrests and facing danger, officers continue to create meaningful community partnerships with our residents and business owners which are so important in keeping a community safe.

I congratulate the seventeen Gloucester Township Police Officers who traveled to Washington D.C. by bicycle last week to participate in the National Peace Officers Memorial Candlelight Vigil to honor those that were killed in the line of duty.

During this coming week, many Gloucester Township Police Officers will be visiting our schools and speaking with children about their profession. Such relationship with our youth is absolutely critical to successful community policing.

On this day, National Peace Officers Memorial Day, I ask that you remember all the law enforcement officers who have lost their lives while also pausing for a moment to think of the Gloucester Township Police Officers who perform at their very best everyday in making Gloucester Township even safer.

Thank you for being our partner in policing, and thank you for your support of the Gloucester Township Police Department.

For more information about National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial please visit their website athttp://www.nleomf.com/

Thank you.

Harry Earle

Chief of Police