It is a privilege to write about a group of men and women who prove each and every day their willingness to risk their very lives to protect the residents of our city, even those of us they don’t personally know.
What a blessing for us to know Cheyenne has 113 sworn officers who have taken an oath to protect all of us and from all walks of life. They protect our kids in their schools, our businesses and our families in our homes.
I am always in awe of the young men and women who raise their right hand and vow to protect our community. They do so knowing they may one day hear a shot fired in anger directed at them, and their job may ask for the ultimate sacrifice. We see that dedication in Cheyenne with our local military and police force.
We have police officers at work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It means they miss birthdays and holidays due to the necessity of shift work. It means that not only do the officers sacrifice, but so do their families. They celebrate without the officer too many times. Our officers could not do their jobs without the love and support of their families.
I want to say thank you to the Cheyenne community. Across this country, there is a rising anti-police sentiment. Officers are not supported by their elected officials or community members. That is not the case in Cheyenne. We have had many officers from across the country transfer to Cheyenne based on the support they see our residents give to local law enforcement. That support comes from our officers understanding the importance of earning the respect of community members in each interaction.
It is often a very bad day when we meet a working police officer. We either broke one of our community’s rules, or we were the victim of a crime. The fact is, without rules and order, we would not have a functioning society. Our police officers are tasked with enforcing the rules created by our elected officials and helping to strengthen the order in our society.
I attended the Cheyenne Police Department’s Annual Awards Ceremony this spring. It was obvious the pride the officers have in their jobs and the training they receive to reinforce the Cheyenne way of policing. It was fun to see them celebrate the successes of the winners and to hear the stories of what led to their awards. Officers were awarded for saving lives, for collaborating to solve crimes, for donating countless volunteer hours, for their fitness and marksmanship, and for being officer of the year.
Our police officers responded to 75,965 calls for service last year, hosted Cheyenne’s Neighborhood Night Out, Shop with a Cop, Citizens Police Academy, blood drives, Shoot for Sight and so many other civic events to support our residents. You will see them at Frontier Days, Fridays on the Plaza, school sporting events, protecting school crossings — anywhere our residents are gathered, you will find a Cheyenne police officer there participating and protecting.
As mayor of Cheyenne, I am so proud of the men and women who proudly wear the badge of our police department. I love the last part of the oath they take when they are sworn in: “I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public’s trust; that I will have the courage to hold myself accountable for my actions, and that I will maintain a level of moral conduct, both in my personal and professional activities, which reflect the highest of standards of the law enforcement profession.”
During National Police Week, I hope you will join me in thanking our law enforcement community.
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