2020 National Police Week

May 12, 2020

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.

As Chief of Police for the Town of Franklin for more than three years now, and having served the Town as a police officer since 1996, I can say without hesitation that the Town of Franklin is lucky to have a tremendous police department filled with women and men who come to work every day to protect and enhance the community they serve.

It gives me no greater pleasure as Chief than to publicly thank the officers in this Department for all they do, all day, and all night. This most recent pandemic has only reassured me that I am fortunate to have such a group under my command. They have stepped up in the face of ever-changing information, policies, and challenges.

Many of the officers here today also were working after the terrorist attacks of September 11^th, 2001. These world changing events not only changed the way the public acts, but also how the police profession responds. Our officers are adaptive and agile and rise to the level of professionalism expected of them.

The loss of an officer is always a tragedy and is not limited to large cities or agencies. Many of our neighboring Towns have experienced these losses. We remember all those lost in the service of their fellow citizens this week. We pay respect to them for their ultimate sacrifice and remember their families and friends who lost a loved one too soon in every case.

We remember that the word COP, is an acronym for Citizen on Patrol. Every officer is first and foremost a citizen, a member of the community. They have a vested interest in continually improving the quality of life for all our residents and visitors.

In closing, please take a moment to remember all the Police Officers across Massachusetts, and the Nation who have lost their lives in service to others. Remember them not just this week, but every time you see an officer doing their job. Wish them well, and hope for a long and prosperous career for them so they may ultimately retire and spend time making up to their families and friends for all those special days and nights they missed while working in the service of others.

Thank you to all the officers of the Franklin Police Department, past and present, who contributed to making Franklin a wonderful community to live and work in. It is an honor to be counted amongst the many who have served.

Respectfully,

Thomas J. Lynch

Chief of Police