Harford Sheriff: 'We Encourage Our Communities To Say Thank You'

By Sheriff L. Jesse Bane 

There are approximately 900,000 law enforcement officers and 460,000 corrections officers serving in communities across the United States. Each year 60,000 assaults against police are reported resulting in approximately 16,000 injuries.

A staggering 20,000 police officers have been killed in the line of duty since 1791. Over 33.5% of all assaults in prisons and jails are committed by inmates against staff and overall Corrections Officers have the second highest mortality rate of any occupation. Given statistics such as these, one wonders why anyone would want to take on such a job. 
 
The men and women of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office do not take on the 
responsibility of being a police officer or corrections officer with the expectation of being injured or killed. They do not take on this enormous responsibility because it is just a job. They take on this responsibility because it is an avocation. It is a passion and a willingness to serve their community and dedicate their lives to protecting her, and her citizens, from people who want to cause physical, emotional and financial harm. These men and women place themselves 
in harm’s way every day so that people can go about their daily lives safely. For that, we will always be thankful. 
 
But did you know these men and women are part of your community? Our Sheriff’s deputies not only have a vested interest in your safety and well-being but they are vested in the communities they serve. Our deputies are volunteer firefighters and EMTs, Scout, church and civic leaders. They dedicate their free time to coaching and mentoring our youth in programs 
such as Boys 2 Men.

They coordinate such programs as Badges for Baseball and Youth Explorer Camps. They participate in and actively support programs such as Special Olympics,March of Dimes, and Read across America, the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Sheriff’s Office Christmas Drive, and the Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center (SARC). These deputies not only protect and serve you but they are your neighbors and your friends. 
 
That is why the month of May, and more specifically the weeks of May 6-11 and May 11-17 2014, is recognized as National Corrections Officer and National Police Week. It is during this time we honor and remember those who have given their lives in the line of duty. It is also during this month that we encourage our communities to say thank you to those police and corrections officers for the job they do. It is a difficult job fraught with the challenges of an ever changing society. But these men and women persevere to maintain the level of excellence 
our citizens have come to know and appreciate. I am proud of the men and women who serve within the ranks of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. I know and understand their passion and dedication.

Please join with me during May, and throughout the year, and thank them for 
the sacrifices they make and for their commitment to our County. It is those sacrifices and commitment that make our communities safer and stronger.