Meeting Transcript

Officer Crowfoot, please assemble the officers. Ladies and gentlemen, in nineteen sixty-two, President Kennedy proclaimed May fifteenth as National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the calendar week in which May fifteenth follows as National Police Week. Or the land of all of the colors. Officers. Everyone, please remain standing for the invocation by Jeff Aider. Good morning, friends. Let us pray. Eternal God, our refuge and strength. On this solemn occasion, we gather with heavy hearts to honor the brave men and women of law enforcement who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. We remember their courage, their unwavering dedication to protect and serve, and their profound commitment to justice and peace within our communities. Their vigilance stood as a shield against the darkness, and their selfless acts embodied the highest ideals of public service. We acknowledge the profound grief of their families, friends, and colleagues. Grant them solace and strength in their loss, and may the love and gratitude of the thankful community surround them. May this memorial stand as a constant reminder of the precious value of their service and the enduring impact of their sacrifice. May it inspire us to live with greater courage, compassion, and respect for the rule of law they so valiantly upheld. Grant your eternal peace to these fallen heroes, and may their memory forever be a blessing. And let us say Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Those family members of peace officers from the Pikes Peak region who lost their lives in the line of duty. Based on the number of dignitaries joining us today, this memorial service is obviously extremely important. We would like to recognize all of the representatives of city and county governments, law enforcement agencies, military agencies, and other distinguished visitors. A special thank you goes to all who wear the badge or have worn the badge for coming out today and showing your support for each other and for the families. Now, I would like to introduce Chief Adrian Vasquez of the Carl Springs Police Department. Well, thank you, Patrick, and good morning to everybody. As we honor our police officers across this entire nation this week, I truly appreciate that you would spend your time with us this morning. Thank you for being here and joining us. You know, one of the greatest joys of being the chief of police is spending time with new recruits starting our academy. The appreciation that they exude for getting a seat in a chair that's going to prepare them for the training they need to play such a difficult yet fulfilling role in our community in our society is truly renewing my resolve each time I get to spend time with them. After 30 years, I've watched so many move through their careers, through their time as a police officer. And I'm still to this day in awe of the sacrifice such honorable men and women are willing to make so their community or their state or their country thrive under the warm blanket of safety that they provide. You know it's easy to find reasons not to serve. Simply turn on the news, jump on social media and read the latest criticism, or listen to the stories of danger other f other officers face here or there. A police officer's life is not dispensable, yet we give sometimes all, everything. A police officer's family and friends are all too often aware of this, and I thank you all for your service in your important role. You're sometimes left without one you love deeply, and you must find a path, an impossible path forward. But imagine, if you will, our society if officers did not believe in what they do. What if they were not there? Standing guard, then what? Today is never an easy day. It's a day that brings everything into sharp focus as we honor and remember officers we've lost, men and women who serve with heart, with courage, and with commitment. Many lost are still early in their careers, young, sometimes just out of the academy, still learning, still adjusting. Many are in their last days of service with a lifetime of experience, still showing up, all wearing a badge with pride. They put themselves on the line, the oath to protect and serve, no matter the cost. To the families who have lost, there's nothing I can say that makes this easier. I won't pretend to understand your grief, but I want you to know that your loved.