Gulf Shores, Ala. — (GSN) — Coastal Alabama is marking National Police Week with a special focus on the officers who protect Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Foley, and surrounding communities. Residents and visitors see these officers at work every day on busy highways, in neighborhoods, and around popular attractions. This week offers a chance to pause and say thank you. It is also a time to remember officers who never made it home from their shifts.
The idea for National Police Week dates back to the early 1960s, when Congress authorized a special day to honor peace officers. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls in as Police Week. Since then, the week has grown into a national tradition of remembrance and support.
In Washington, D.C., thousands gather each year at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial for services that read the names of officers killed in the line of duty. Those ceremonies are echoed by local memorials, flag-lowering events, and community vigils. Even in smaller cities, departments use the week to reflect on the risks their officers face and the promises they make to the public…