88 SFS & law enforcement partners come together for National Police Week Published June 7, 2024 By Daniel Peterson 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The 88th Security Forces Squadron hosted a series of events in honor of National Police Week at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, May 13-17. Participants gathered from across the base, local and state law enforcement agencies to partake in memorials, competitions and public events. National Police Week is an annual observance meant to instill honor, remembrance, and peer support among law enforcement while allowing them, survivors, and citizens to pay special recognition to those who gave their lives in the line of duty. During the opening ceremony at the 88 SFS Defenders Grove, Wright-Patt leadership joined base, local, and state police in reflecting on our fallen law enforcement officers. “There’s no better time to take a week to celebrate what it is you do every day, our defenders and our police, but also recognize those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” Col. Travis Pond, 88th Air Base Wing deputy commander, said during his opening remarks. “We have a week’s worth of events to give you all the time to think, take a break, have some camaraderie, but also remember those who died serving.” Andy Wilson, Ohio Department of Safety director, who oversees the state’s nine public safety divisions, was the guest speaker at the event. Before his official statements, Wilson asked for a moment of silence to recognize Officer Jacob Derbin, from Euclid, Ohio, who was killed in the line of duty on May 11. Later in his speech, Wilson recounted competing in a 150-mile relay race earlier this year alongside the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the positive impact the officers made on him. “We need to constantly be surrounding ourselves with people who will push us to be the best versions of ourselves every single day,” Wilson said. “There is no better way to sharpen our edge and to strive for constant improvement than through tactical, technical, physical, or other skill-based competition.” Following the opening ceremonies, a K-9 skills competition was held between certified law enforcement and Wright-Patt military working dog teams. The contest consisted of an obedience challenge, obstacle course, and capability demonstration. MWD Kkaun and his handler Airman 1st Class Devan Hiler, 88 SFS, took top honors among nine competitors. The next evening, the Dayton Dragons baseball team recognized Kkaun and the entire 88 SFS military working dog unit as hometown heroes during a military appreciation night game, May 14. On May 15, a Police Week Cops & Cars Expo was held at the off-base Prairies housing community park. Local law enforcement agencies exhibited their latest technology, equipment, and tactical vehicles and interacted with local community members. Participants included 88 SFS, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Fairborn Police, Green County Parks & Trails, Green County Sheriff’s Department, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Marshals Service. “Police Week is a great opportunity for law enforcement to showcase their capabilities across the installation and even to our civilian partners and population,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Stefan Endicott, 4th Law Enforcement Battalion military police inspector-instructor. “It’s a community relations effort that just brings everybody together and lets everyone know what it is that we do and what we have at our disposal.” Endicott helped organize this year’s Defenders Challenge, May 16. Teams of four to five members competed in a series of timed physical challenges designed to test personal fitness, mental resilience, and competitive teamwork. Wearing weighted vests, challengers completed a 50-meter Humvee push, weapons disassembly and reassembly, a 200-lb casualty evacuation litter carry, and a physical fitness station. “It’s great to watch the teams work together and come up with different plans,” Endicott said. “I lay the foundation of what they’re doing, but they get to devise how they’re going to complete it and its interesting to watch the ingenuity and problem-solving take place as they go through the different obstacles.” On the last day, service members from across the base marched in the rain alongside local and state law enforcement officers during a Ruck to Remember 5K. Many participants attached the names, biographies, and photos of fallen officers to the back of their rucksacks to honor them. At the half-way point, participants held an End of Watch and moment of silence to reflect on their ultimate sacrifice. To close out the week, the 88 SFS held a formal remembrance ceremony, reading the names of officers from local law enforcement, security forces and Air Force office of special investigations who have fallen in the line of duty. The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence accompanied by a lone bugle playing Taps. National Police Week was established in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy declared May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day to pay tribute to the federal, state, and municipal peace officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. He also proclaimed the week of May 15 as Police Week, to recognize the duties and responsibilities police officers take on as they serve the American people. Video Recap of 2024 Wright-Patterson AFB Police Week 03:48 VIDEO | 03:48 | Wright-Patt Police Week 2024