IT IS THEIR DAY AND WE SHOULD ALL THANK THEM.

Today is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and in my opinion we all owe them a debt of gratitude.  Each day they are out there responding to calls,  putting their life on the line to protect us.  I suggest you shake the hand of a law enforcement officer the next time you see them and tell them thanks.

Today there are more than 800,000 officers in the United States, 73 federal agencies,  3063 sheriff's offices and over 12,000 municipal, county, tribal and regional police departments.

As these men and women put their lives on the line each day, we should also remember those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.  In 2021 alone, 472 officers lost their lives in the U.S. and In 2020, 373 officers were lost.  Never before had the nationwide total reached above 300 until 2020.  As of 2021 a total of 23,229 officers have been lost.

In Montana a total of 143 police officers have been lost.  Below is a list of officers lost right here in Great Falls and with the Cascade County sheriff's office.  This list comes from the Officers Down Memorial Page.

According to the memorial page, six officers from the Great Falls Police Department have been lost while protecting the community.

Senior Officer Shane Chadwick.  Killed by gunfire in 1994.

Lt. Ferdinand Peres.  Died after being assaulted, December 8, 1959.

Lt. Sig Semingsen.  Died from a heart attack on November 28, 1935.

GF Police Officer Frank Connolly.  Died from gunfire on August 2, 1920.

GF Police Officer Luke Curry.  Died of gunfire November 19, 1898.

GF City Marshal Commodore Perry Downing.  No picture.  Died after being struck by streetcar in 1895.

In the Cascade County Sheriff's office we have lost two in the line of duty according to the Officers Downed Memorial Page.

Deputy Joseph Dunn.  Died of vehicular assault on August 14th, 2014.

Chief Deputy Sheriff Herbert Lock.  Died of gunfire on December 11, 1928.

Remember, they are out there risking their lives every day to protect us.  From the bottom of my heart,  thank you to all the officers that serve our city, county and country.