Ads by Google Ads by Google

Police celebrate Peace Officers Day

[photo: AF]Police officers stand at attention, at the start of the official opening yesterday morning at the Fagatogo malae — Malae o le Talu — of Police Week in American Samoa. Last week US President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation which proclaims May 15th as Peace Officers Day, honoring those who died in the line of duty last year. [photo: AF]A look at cadets attending the Police Academy, as they took part in a mini parade yesterday morning at the Fagatogo malae, to official open Police Week in American Samoa. DPS is expected to announce soon as to when graduation will be held for the current Police Academy. [photo: AF]Senior police officers, who lead the mini parade yesterday morning at the Fagatogo malae — Malae o le Talu — to officially open Police Week in American Samoa.  [photo: AF]
ausage@samoanews.com

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga (at podium) during special remarks yesterday at the Malae o le Talu (Fagatogo malae) for the official opening of Police Week in American Samoa. On stage, at the Fagatogo Pavilion, [l-r] former police commissioner Sen. Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, current Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson, Lt. Gov. Lemanu Pelepoi Peleti Mauga, and local Matson shipping company official Moeipologa John Pereira.

Police, fire bureau, DPS personnel and cadets with the Police Academy participated in a mini parade yesterday morning at the Fagatogo malae before the governor delivered brief remarks saying that police officers are responsible for protecting the safety and welfare of the community. And that such responsibility should ensure that the public and the overall community places the trust on police officers.

Lolo called on the community to stand together with police officers in support of police work. He also called on the community to take time out to thank police officers — men and women in uniform — for their hard work.

The governor then called on police officers to do their work with love and honesty as well as making sure that respect is always shown towards the public. He said American Samoa joins the United States and its territories in honoring the hard working men and women in police forces across the country.

“The job you are faced with today is the protection of the freedom of the community and to ensure they are safe,” Lolo told the gathering, adding that the US Constitution guarantees the freedom of people in every community.

Last week US President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation which proclaims May 15th as Peace Officers Day, honoring the men and women who died last year in the line of duty.  Last year, 118 officers died in the line of duty, and of those, 66 were victims of malicious attacks, according to the president.

In American Samoa, there was no police officers lives lost last year.

In the same proclamation, the president declared May 14- 20 as Police Week in states and territories. “Police officers are the thin blue line whose sacrifices protect and serve us every day, and we pledge to support them as they risk their lives to safeguard ours,” Trump said.

Among local activities for Police Week in the territory, is the two-day of booths set up at Fagatogo malae, starting today. The booths will showcase the different divisions of Public Safety Department and the work they are involved in — such as fire bureau, police service and traffic.

On Thursday, at Su’igaula o le Atuvasa Park at Utulei Beach is “family day” and on Friday at 6p.m. is the Police Ball at the Tradewinds Hotel (instead of the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium).