Illinois state Sen. John Curran praised law enforcement during National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Sunday, Jan. 9. | Facebook
Illinois state Sen. John Curran praised law enforcement during National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Sunday, Jan. 9. | Facebook
An Illinois state senator who is focused on passing job-creating reforms and legislation thanked law enforcement on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day earlier this month.
State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) said on Facebook that people should be grateful to law enforcement personnel.
“They work days, nights, weekends, and holidays, keeping us safe,” Curran wrote. “Today we honor true heroes; our dedicated members of law enforcement. Join me in thanking these brave men and women for all they do in our communities.”
Observed on Jan. 9, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was created by several organizations in 2015 to show officers that people are aware that their work is difficult and appreciated, the day’s history said. The catalyst for the day was events surrounding the time in 2014 when a police officer was involved in a crossfire shooting in Missouri.
“The backlash and violence that followed this event led C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors) to take the initiative to change this negative portrayal of police officers in the news in recent years into a positive one,” the history said. “With over 900,000 officers in the United States, the organization believes it is essential to support law enforcers during difficult times, and a holiday dedicated to them does just that.”
Traditionally, on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, people express gratitude for their local law enforcement in several ways, including wearing blue clothing in solidarity with police officers and sharing positive experiences with them on social media.
The appreciation day is marked during a time when several cities experienced record-high crime in 2021 while dealing with police staffing shortages that affected their 911 calls' response times, Newsweek reported. Chicago was third on a list of top cities affected by organized retail crime, the “2021 Retail Security Survey” said.
Chicago’s crime rate has driven a neighborhood association in Bucktown to hire a private security firm to patrol the neighborhood, Block Club Chicago said. Overall nine Illinois law enforcement officers lost their lives in the line of duty in 2021, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
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