Hope Amid Sadness

Isaac Pratt, Kael Youngblood, Ron Tolson, A.J. Morales and Elena Morales

by Chief of Police Johnnie Torres, Jr.

In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

Here in Ingham County, we remembered those fallen heroes on May 7 on the State Capitol steps and again on May 8 at the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office. We do this every year, so we never forget those heroes. Always a sad day; not just for us who wear the uniform, but also for those who have lost a loved one who wore the uniform. Locally, we remembered 10 such heroes who lost their lives in the line of duty while working for agencies in Ingham County.

According to the “Officer Down Memorial Page” website (www.odmp.org) 54 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty in 2018. Of those, twenty-seven died as the result of gunfire. There is a program called the “Below 100 Program,” an initiative that aims to reduce line of duty deaths to below 100, a number not the seen since 1943. Simply put, the training for law enforcement is to: Wear your belt, Wear your vest, Watch your speed, WIN (What’s Important Now), and Complacency kills. If we in law enforcement do our part, deaths may someday fall below 100.

Amid these startling statistics, there is hope and also great pride in a noble service profession. That hope and pride was on full display at the recent graduation of the Law Enforcement class of 2018 at the Wilson Talent Center, formerly the Capital Area Career Center. Forty-three students graduated from the program, and the pride and joy in their expressions showed that a few brave souls wish to serve and protect communities.

Congratulations to Isaac Pratt, Kael Youngblood, Ron Tolson, A. J. Morales, and Elena Morales on their achievement. May they can continue on their chosen path and realize their dreams in a noble profession worthy of a community’s admiration and respect.

Stay vigilant; stay safe.

Chief Torres, a native of Flint, began his career as a reserve police officer before joining the City of Lansing Police where he served for more than 14 years. He joined the Stockbridge Police Department in 2009 and became its chief in 2011. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint and is married with two adult children.