“Every day, the dedicated men and women of Alberta’s police services go to work to protect people in the communities they serve – and they do it not knowing if the next call will bring them face to face with a life-and-death situation.
“Our brave police officers summon the courage to answer the call when Albertans need them, all too aware of others before them who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
“In Calgary, colleagues of Sgt. Andrew Harnett faithfully do their duty every day, even as they still remember him and grieve his death in the line of duty less than two years ago. The same is true in Edmonton, where Const. Daniel Woodall died in service of his community in 2015, and among RCMP officers across this province who served alongside Const. David Wynn, who died in the same year.
“Hearing about incidents when police officers have given their lives or risked their own safety to protect others is a big reason why we consider them heroes in uniform. Police officers have truly earned that title, but it’s not only for what we read in the headlines: for every act of bravery or arrest that makes the news, there are thousands of calls when a police officer has made a difference in someone’s life.
“The theme of National Police Week this year is Connected to our Communities, and it’s a true reflection of the important role that police play in our everyday lives. On the job, police officers enforce the law and investigate crime – but they are also protectors who help those in distress.
“During this National Police Week, I want to thank our dedicated police officers for working day in and day out to make Alberta a better place to live. If you see a police officer this week, please take a moment to say ‘thank you’ or offer a friendly smile and a wave. It’s a small gesture of appreciation for everything they do to keep us safe.”