By Airman 1st Class Kristine M. Gruwell, 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs / Published May 21, 2019
Defenders assigned to the 19th Security Forces Squadron run a 5K in as part of Police Week at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, May 13, 2019. National Police Week is the week of May 15 each year to pay tribute to local, state and federal law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kristine M. Gruwell)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jamal Nasir, 19th Security Forces Squadron training instructor, prepares to begin the driver’s challenge in recognition of Police Week at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, May 14, 2019. National Police Week is the week of May 15 each year to pay tribute to the local, state and federal law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Team Little Rock recognizes Police Week through numerous activities such as the Defender’s challenge, driver’s challenge and a ruck march. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kristine M. Gruwell)
A Team Little Rock Airman navigates through a series of cones for the driver’s challenge in recognition of Police Week at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, May 14, 2019. Team Little Rock Airmen participated in numerous events to recognize police such as the Defender’s challenge, driver’s challenge and a ruck march. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kristine M. Gruwell)
Team Little Rock Airmen applaud for a participant in the driver’s challenge Police Week event at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, May 14, 2019. Airmen drove through a series of cones to see who could drive the best with the fastest speed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kristine M. Gruwell)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ndidi Akalanze, 19th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, acts as the decoy as Iino, 19th Security Forces Squadron MWD, restrains him during a hard/fast dog competition at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, May 17, 2019. The competition was one of the many events in which Defenders participated in recognition of Police Week. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kristine M. Gruwell)
Defenders assigned to the 19th Security Forces Squadron guard and carry a training dummy weighing approximately 180 pounds during a Police Week event at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, May 14, 2019. Team Little Rock Airmen participated in numerous events to recognize police such as the Defender’s challenge, driver’s challenge and a ruck march. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kristine M. Gruwell)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Timothy Duggan, 19th Security Forces Squadron Defender, guards a training dummy during the defender’s challenge in recognition of Police Week at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, May 14, 2019. National Police Week is the week of May 15 each year to pay tribute to local, state and federal law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kristine M. Gruwell)
Defenders assigned to 19th Security Forces Squadron Charlie Flight, received the most points from the competitions throughout Police Week at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, May 17, 2019. National Police Week is the week of May 15 each year to pay tribute to local, state and federal law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Team Little Rock recognizes Police Week through numerous activities such as the Defender’s challenge, driver’s challenge and a ruck march. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kristine M. Gruwell)
Team Little Rock Airmen recognized Police Week with numerous competitions and events at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, May 13-17, 2019.
“Police Week is meant to celebrate serving police officers so the events are designed to be competition based but most of them require teamwork,” said U.S Air Force Master Sgt. Justin Buchholz, 19th Security Forces NCO in charge of operations. “In the spirit of honoring (the) service of law enforcement officers, this is an opportunity to build camaraderie among our sister services and local Defenders.”
Kicking off the week was the opening ceremony paired with a 3-mile run. Defenders and the rest of Team Little Rock participated in numerous events such as a German armed forces course of fire competition, German armed forces proficiency badge competition, Defender’s challenge, shooting competition and many more.
Not only did Team Little Rock participate, but local law enforcement officials brought numerous K9 teams out to compete in the hard dog/fast dog competition. Each team competed for speed of the dog and the bite intensity.
This also gave them the opportunity to train alongside K9 teams and see how they can work together for future missions.
“Our dog teams do support civilian missions,” Buccholz said. “The reason we train together is because we have an agreement that if our civilian comrades need support, we send a K9 team out and they already know how each team operates.”
Camaraderie and wingmanship developed between law enforcement units has been one that has grown since the early 1960s when Police Week and Peace Officer’s Memorial Day were first recognized nationally.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day. The week this date falls on is thereby known as Police Week and this tradition TLR follows.
The week celebrated current and past law enforcement officers but May 15 was a day to recognize law enforcement officials who have fallen in the line of duty.
“Let’s continue to remember those officers since they are our heritage,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Donald Bartholomew, 19th Security Forces Squadron commander. “They left a legacy we need to carry on.”