Recognizing Police Week

It’s National Police Week and a great time to show appreciation for our police force.

The history of National Police Week began in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.

This year, Green River’s Mayor, Pete Rust, signed the National Police Week Proclamation observing May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and calling all Green River residents to observe May 13-19 as Police Week.

In recognition of National Police Week, law enforcement officers from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C., at the National Mall for the 30th Annual Candlelight Vigil May 13 to honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice.

This year, our own Chief of Police, Tom Jarvie and Sgt. Rob Fischer were among the tens of thousands of law enforcement officers attending the event in our nation’s capital. This year, 360 fallen law enforcement officers were honored during the 30th Annual Candlelight Vigil.

There is no bigger crisis in law enforcement than an officer who has been killed in the line of duty. That crisis occurred 129 times in 2017 across the U.S.

Including the names added on Sunday, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial bears the names of 21,541 officers representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, federal law enforcement and military police agencies—all who have made the ultimate sacrifice in our nation’s history. The names of the 360 officers added to the National Memorial this year can be found at http://www.LawMemorial.org/2018RollCall.

As we honor our current and fallen officers, we remember former Green River Police Department Lieutenant Mark Lamonte (Mont) Mecham, who in 1996 was injured in the line of duty while investigating a death of a 31 year old woman. While attempting to apprehend the suspect, Mont was critically injured as the suspect fired a shotgun, striking Mont in the neck.

Mont was treated in Salt Lake City, where fragments of the shotgun blast paralyzed one of his arms and his diaphragm. He lived for 21 more years, serving in the police force until 2003.

Mont died in April 2017 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center at the age of 67 from complications relating to the injury.

Mont was named Wyoming Police Officer of the year in 1996. He was a mentor and always shared his wisdom and knowledge. He believed there was a great officer in anyone who wanted the chance.

He touched the lives of many and will be remembered by all who knew him. This year his name was added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall in Washington, D.C.

For additional information about National Police Week contact Jamie Green at the Green River Police Department. For pictures from the Vigil and more, follow Green River Police Department on Facebook.