Here to receive the Proclamation is Ruben Garcia – Police Chief for the City of Lakeland.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy declared May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which it falls is National Police Week. Police officers of America have worked devotedly and selflessly on behalf of the people of this Nation, regardless of the peril or hazard to themselves. 362 police officers lost their lives in the line of duty across the United States in 2020, including 234 succumbing to COVID-19 related issues and our City’s own Officer Paul Dunn, who was killed in a motorcycle crash while on duty January 9, 2020, Police officers throughout our communities are dedicated to protecting and serving neighborhoods, schools and families. The Lakeland community values the courage and devotion of our Lakeland Police Officers, who risk their lives daily to ensure public safety and protect us through enforcement of our laws and honor Federal, State, and Municipal officers who have also been killed or disabled in the line of duty.