Article Display

JB MDL Police Week

Lt. Col. Tim Heintzelman, 87th Security Forces Squadron commander, rings a bell in memory of fallen law enforcement officials at the Police Week opening ceremony May 10 on Sharpe Parade Field. He was accompanied by Maj. Jack Warlow and Edward Dressler, also members of the 87th SFS. National Police Week pays honor to those who lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Carlos Cintron)

JB MDL Police Week

Tech.Sgt.Thomas Carpino, 421st Combat Training Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of standardization evaluations, runs through the tactical course as Tech. Sgt. Ricky Furrow, 87th Security Forces Squadron, judges during the May 11 Police Week tactical shooting competition. Police Week is an annual event held to honor law enforcement professionals who passed in the line of duty and to build camaraderie amongst different law enforcement agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Wayne Russell)

JB MDL Police Week

Senior Airman Sean Schwartz, 87th Security Forces Squadron, military working dog handler, is tackled by a police K-9 during the handler protection competition at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst May 13. The dogs are trained to tackle a fleeing suspect and hang on to them until a police officer arrives on the scene.(U.S. Air Force photo/Carlos Cintron)

JB MDL Police Week

Col. Gina Grosso, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst commander, congratulates the winners of various Police Week competitions held earlier in the week. Grosso thanked the joint base and local police agencies for their efforts to secure the areas and homes of military members on base and in local communities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Wayne Russell)

JB MDL takes shot at Police Week 2010

Published May 19, 2010
By 2nd Lt. Carolyn Glover
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The 87th Security Forces Squadron joined with community law enforcement professionals May 10 through 14 here in celebration of Police Week 2010.
Police Week is held to not only celebrate the sacrifice and commitment of all law enforcement professionals, but also to commemorate those who gave their lives in service of the community.

"Police Week allows us to take time to reflect on the sacrifices of our fellow law enforcement professionals, both civilian and military," said Col. Tim Heintzelman, 87th SFS commander. "It is also a great opportunity to demonstrate the tremendous skill and ability of our warfighters and their civilian counterparts."

Various festivities took place throughout the week, including a shooting competition, K-9 competition and golf tournament. Activities were open to all JB MDL servicemembers and local law enforcement officials from neighboring communities.

The 87th Security Forces Squadron launched the week's festivities with an opening ceremony on Sharpe Parade Field. Col. Joseph Poth, JB MDL deputy commander and career Army military police officer, was the event's guest speaker.

"(This is) the first ceremony where our military and our community come together to commemorate those fallen police officers who have gone before us," he said. "It is appropriate because our military and our law enforcement professionals are bound by common virtues of sacrifice and service."

All in attendance paid tribute as the names of the fallen officers were read and a cannon shot was fired.
The rest of the week's festivities came in the form of friendly competition and demonstrations.

A tactical shooting competition began early Tuesday and continued throughout the day. Sharp shooters competed individually and in teams, showcasing shooting skills with various maneuvers at a variety of distances.

The whole JB MDL community was able to join in the festivities in front of the commissary on Wednesday. Drug Abuse Resistance Education officers and McGruff the Crime Dog interacted with audience members throughout the day. Equipment and weapons used by SFS members were on display and military working dogs showed off their abilities through a variety of demonstrations.

Working dogs from the base and community law enforcement teams competed against each other Thursday in four different events: narcotics detection, handler protection, building searches and obedience skills.

"It was really great to see our working dogs compete with those from civilian police departments. The competition was really close and our dogs definitely showed themselves well," said Tech. Sgt. Roland Lovitt, 87th SFS kennel master.
Police Week participants finished the week squaring off on the green during a golf tournament Friday.

Senior Master Sgt. Warrick, 87th SFS logistics superintendent, hopes Police Week provided an opportunity for the public to share in the understanding and remembrance of the sacrifices of fallen law enforcement professionals.

"Even though many of us who have lost a comrade think of person numerous times throughout the year, Police Week provides the entire policing community and the Nation the opportunity to pay particular tribute to the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice to defend and serve," he said. "Many people don't think about what a police officer, whether military or civilian, provides until they need one. Hopefully, during our first annual Joint Base Police Week, we provided an opportunity for the public to share in our remembrance."