Kane County municipal police departments and the Kane Sheriff’s Office  are participating in a number of events in honor of National Police Week, May 11-17.

Perhaps highest on the list is the annual Kane County Chiefs of Police Association’s Law Enforcement Appreciation ceremony at Mooseheart in Batavia, which honors officers who have fallen in the line of duty and expresses appreciation for law enforcers throughout Kane County. That event takes place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15.

Other highlights include the Exchange Club of Aurora’s “Police Officer of the Year Luncheon” on Tuesday, May 13, and the Aurora Police Department’s annual memorial ceremony on Saturday, May 17.

The Exchange Club’s luncheon takes place at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 13, at Gaslite Manor, 2485 Church Road. This year, nine Aurora police officers are nominated for the 2014 Police Officer of the Year award. This is an annual tradition since 1963.

The annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Ceremony in Aurora begins at 10 a.m. May 17 in the Memorial Plaza outside the Aurora Police Department’s Headquarters, 1200 E. Indian Trail.

FROM THE CITY OF AURORA

Aurora Police officers and City officials will once again pay tribute to the dedication of the men and women, past and present, who protect Aurora and communities nationwide during “National Police Week”, May 11-17.
 
2014 marks the 18^th straight year the police department and City are celebrating the week, which has been observed nationally since President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 proclamation that designated the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week.  The same proclamation named May 15 as National Police Officer’s Memorial Day to honor those officers who have been killed in the line of duty.
 
On Saturday, May 17, the community is invited to APD’s annual Memorial Ceremony which will salute current and former police officers, and feature several family-friendly events and activities.

The day will begin at 10 a.m. in the Memorial Plaza outside the Aurora Police Department’s Headquarters, 1200 E. Indian Trail, with a service dedicated to the memories of Alfred Olin and Thompson Richardson, the only two Aurora Police officers ever killed in the line of duty. Also memorialized will be two retired Aurora Police officers who passed away since last year’s police week: brothers Sgt. Donald Joy and Lt. Marcel “Pete” Joy. The Aurora Police Honor Guard will stage formations and a gun salute during the ceremony.
 
New to this years’ service is the official unveiling of new names added to the Aurora Police Service Wall which honors APD employees who retired after 20, 25, and 30 years. Officer Jay Dunn and Sergeants Dan Donka and Kevin Triplett, all of whom retired in the past year, will be honored. Officers hired since last year’s police week, will also be formally introduced.
 
Following the ceremony, the community is invited to meet Aurora Police officers and get close-up views of specialized vehicles and equipment including a demonstration from the Special Response Team. In addition, children are invited to have their pictures taken in an authentic Aurora Police uniform, enjoy a magic show staged by Aurora Police Sgt. Dan Eppard, check out a bicycle rodeo, and try their luck at a dunk tank sponsored by the National Latino Peace Officers Association. The department will also make kids’ identification cards available which contain their physical descriptions and photos in the event they ever become lost.
 
Baseball aficionados will have the chance to play baseball with the Aurora Town Club, a team consisting of Aurora Police officers who play vintage baseball under the original rules established in the 1800’s. Food will be available for purchase throughout the morning courtesy of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association.
 
In addition, VNA Health Care’s Mobile Health Clinic will be on-site from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. offering low-cost school and sports physicals and free blood pressure checks. A certified VNA Navigator will also be on-hand to offer free Medicaid enrollment assistance and answer questions about the newly expanded Medicaid program. More information is available by calling VNA at 630-892-4355. 
 
At 6:30 p.m. on Police Officer’s Memorial Day, Thursday, May 15, the Kane County Chiefs of Police will hold its annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Ceremony at the Mooseheart Church of God on Rt. 31 in Batavia. The non-denominational service will feature a candle lighting vigil to honor Kane County officers who been killed in the line of duty as well as formations from area police honor guards and pipe and drum units.
 
On Tuesday, May 13, the annual Exchange Club of Aurora ‘Police Officer of the Year Luncheon’ will be staged at 11:30 a.m. at Gaslite Manor, 2485 Church Rd. Nine Aurora Police Officers are nominated for the 2014 award which has been an annual tradition since 1963.
 
For questions on any of the activities call (630) 256-5008.

FROM THE CITY OF ST. CHARLES

Next week is National Police Week, May 11, 2014 to May 17, 2014. This is a week set aside to remember the many law enforcement officers who have given their lives in the line of duty and to honor those officers who serve and protect our communities every day.

A Law Enforcement exhibition in honor of National Police Week will be on display in the south window of the St. Charles City Hall, which faces Main Street.

On Monday, May 5, 2014, a Proclamation was signed by Mayor Raymond Rogina declaring the week of May 11 to the 17, 2014 to be National Police Week.

On Thursday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m., the Kane County Chiefs of Police Association will hold their annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Ceremony at Mooseheart in Batavia. The ceremony is held to thank the officers of Kane County for their dedication, as well as honor those killed in the line of duty.