Green Bay Police Department observes National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day

GREEN BAY, Wis (WGBW) – This week is National Police Week, which is recognized from May 11 to May 17. On Tuesday, May 13, the Green Bay Police Department (GBPD) gathered to honor and remember Wisconsin law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty ahead of National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, which is Thursday, May 15. 

The ceremony was held in front of the Green Bay Police Department’s Law Enforcement Memorial. GBPD Chief Chris Davis said honoring fallen law enforcement officers is essential.

“We do everything we can, obviously, to mitigate the risk of a profession that has its risks. Unfortunately, despite all our best efforts, sometimes the unthinkable happens. We’re very fortunate in this community that it’s been a very long time. And I pray every day that it will never happen again,” Davis said. “But you know, when you take this job, you know that that’s one of the things that comes with it. I think the reason why people keep answering that call is because there are still people who recognize that it’s worth it. It’s for a good cause, that we take that risk to keep our communities safe.”

Police officers are people first

Davis added that during National Police Week, it is also important to remember the sacrifices police officers made to protect their communities.

“One of the things that keeps me coming to work every day is the people that you get to work with. They’re human beings, just like all of us. We all have our quirks and eccentricities and the things that motivate us. But every one of these men and women, when things are going wrong, they’re gonna run towards the problem instead of away from it. And that’s character. And it’s just an honor to be associated with people with that level of character,” Davis said.

Davis said he would like citizens to remember that police officers live, breathe, love, and work in the communities they serve.

“I think people forget a lot of times that police officers are people. That we have families at home. That we feel things, and we live in the same community that they do. When in interactions with police officers, you’ll see where people really are, just reacting to the institution and not the person who’s behind the badge.”

“The other thing that I always just encourage people in the community to remember is the extraordinary level of dedication that our police officers have to keep this community safe,” said Davis.

GBPD Communications Coordinator Jennifer Gonzalez echoed Davis’ sentiments.

“ We need to remember that they are also fathers. They are mothers; they are sisters; they are brothers, and they are children themselves. They have parents too who worry about them each and every day that they come in and do what they can to serve and protect our community,” Gonzalez said.

The Green Bay Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors to honor the men and women who served, protected, and died in the line of duty.

Civic Media’s John Maino contributed to this report.