National Police Week May 12-18 | News, sports, jobs

Serving as a law enforcement officer is an honorable and noble job. I was fortunate to be able to work in this profession for almost 32 years. Many things have changed, but what remains the same drives me to continue to serve.

Every day I come to work not knowing exactly what the day will bring. Every day I learn something new. Every day I have the opportunity to help my community. This job is a great adventure. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

May 12th to 18th is National Police Week. May 15th is National Police Officer Memorial Day. This is an excellent time to reflect on the law enforcement officers who have given their lives protecting communities across the United States. We thank our local law enforcement for all they do to serve and protect our communities.

It takes a special person to be successful in law enforcement. The City of Marshalltown is fortunate to have dedicated and compassionate public safety professionals in our community. The men and women of the Marshalltown Police Department strive every day to provide exceptional police service.

I feel lucky to work with such a wonderful group of people. I would like to take this time to thank all police officers, deputies, detectives, reserve officers, 911 communications personnel and law enforcement support personnel for their collective service to our community. They all do an excellent job and I really appreciate their efforts.

It is important for everyone to remember that being a police officer can be, and very often is, a dangerous profession. Since the first known death in 1786, more than 24,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice. From 2014 to 2023, there were an average of 252 police deaths each year in the United States and more than 56,000 police officers were assaulted. In 2023, 136 police officers died in the line of duty. There have been 54 law enforcement deaths in the United States so far in 2024 (January 1 to May 1). For more information about line-of-duty deaths, visit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund website (https://nleomf.org/).

These incidents and the possibility of danger weigh heavily on the hearts and minds of every law enforcement officer’s family. Spouses, parents, children and other family members are the unsung heroes of our law enforcement professionals. Without their support, officers would not be able to carry out their duties effectively. I would be remiss if I did not recognize the family members of Marshalltown Police personnel for their support and tolerance every day of the year. We appreciate what you sacrifice so that we can serve you.

The Marshalltown Police Department appreciates the tremendous public support we receive. The men and women of the Marshalltown Police Department are committed to providing high quality, professional law enforcement services to our community. We value the opportunity to collaborate with community members every day. We remain committed to working with the community to make Marshalltown a great place to live, play, learn and work. This police department belongs to the community, to all of you. When we work together, we can all enjoy the benefits of a safe, healthy, and united community.

I am proud to work alongside the police’s dedicated professionals. You all have my deep gratitude and respect. If you have the opportunity next week, take the time to thank your law enforcement for their service to the Marshalltown community.

Stay safe, Marshalltown!

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Michael W. Tupper is the chief of the Marshalltown Police Department.