Police Week highlights freedom's shield

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jose Punzo, a 52nd Communications Squadron official mail center NCO in charge, poses for a mug shot during the National Police Week Jail and Bail event at the Exchange on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, May 12, 2015. A portion of the collected funds will go toward a memorial fund dedicated to fallen police officers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy Kim/Released)

Jailing and Bailing for Police Week

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Syema Sinclair, 52nd Comptroller Squadron financial services and acting section chief, left, issues an arrest warrant during the National Police Week Jail and Bail event at the Exchange on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, May 12, 2015. Spangdahlem community members paid a minimum of $5 to issue arrest warrants to have friends and families detained in a mock holding cell at the Exchange. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy Kim/Released)

Jailing and Bailing for Police Week

A security forces member removes handcuffs from a suspect during the National Police Week Jail and Bail event at the Exchange on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, May 12, 2015. Spangdahlem community members could pay a minimum of $5 to detain a suspect for one hour or $100 for a detention until 4 p.m. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy Kim/Released)

Jailing and Bailing for Police Week

U.S. Air Force Maj. Lee Holfert, a 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron operations officer, left, steps out of a vehicle while in custody of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Cormier, a 52nd Security Forces Squadron training instructor, during the National Police Week Jail and Bail event at the Exchange on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, May 12, 2015. Participants of the event could pay more than the minimum amount of $5 to jail people for a longer period of time. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy Kim/Released)

Police Week spotlights freedom's shield

Published May 20, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Timothy Kim
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The 52nd Security Forces Squadron organized events for National Police Week here May 11-15.

The week serves as an annual commemorative period to honor fallen military, domestic and international police officers and agents.

"National Police Week is about remembering our law enforcement officers," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. John Triana, 52nd SFS supply NCO in charge and point of contact for a Police Week event. "It brings awareness to the base about the individuals that have fallen in the line of duty in service to our people and our country - we commemorate that and thank them."

The memorial week comprised of a Security Forces Memorial Ruck March May 11, a Jail and Bail event May 12, a security forces vehicle/equipment display May 14 and a Defender Decathlon followed by a retreat ceremony May 15.

The Jail and Bail event allowed base community members to pay a minimum of five dollars to lock up friends and acquaintances at the base exchange. Detainees could only post bail by paying double the amount paid for their arrest warrant.

The event served as a fundraiser that sent a portion of its proceeds to a charity dedicated to supporting police officers and their families back in the United States.

The week closed with a retreat ceremony that paid tribute to fallen law enforcement officers, including U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Jacobson, Officer Bryant Holmes of the Chandler, Arizona, Police Department, and German Polizeioberkommissar Hans Brenner.

"Today we are reminded that the security police badge is in the shape of a shield not to protect our lives, but to shield the rights and freedoms of those around us," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Christopher Fisher, 52nd SFS standards and evaluations superintendent, who served as emcee during the retreat ceremony. "In the law enforcement world, there is a term known as the thin blue line; a line of protection that extends beyond the police world and into the Air Force rank and file; a blue line that is made up from all of our defenders here today."

For more photos from the retreat ceremony, visit the photo set on Flickr.