Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea joined communities nationwide in recognizing National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, observed Friday, Jan. 9, the V.I. Justice Department announced in a press release.
The annual observance honors law enforcement professionals serving at the local, territorial and federal levels, including police officers, peace officers, investigators, detectives, forensic technicians and criminal prosecutors throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the press release.
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was established in 2015 following a period of heightened national scrutiny of law enforcement. Police organizations created the observance to encourage public recognition of officers who serve honorably and in the interest of public safety, the press release stated.
“These professionals are our front-line protectors working under unpredictable and often dangerous conditions to safeguard our communities and uphold the rule of law,” Rhea said in the release. “They have answered the call to public service, and for that, we say thank you.”
Rhea encouraged residents to show appreciation through simple gestures, including wearing blue, sending a card or letter to local law enforcement agencies, sharing positive experiences on social media, changing profile colors to blue, or displaying a blue ribbon.
“Most importantly,” Rhea said, “we can show our support by simply saying, thank you.”
