During National Police Week, the City of Bristol Tennessee honors the 73 sworn officers, 10 part-time officers, and 27 civilian employees, who serve the city 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A proclamation was presented to the Police Department at the May meeting of the Bristol Tennessee City Council. The proclamation cited the contributions of the city’s police force and how they work to protect the families and property inside the city limits.
The City of Bristol has a little over 30 square miles and a population of over 27,000 to be covered each day. The officers patrol 450 miles of roadway. The department is both state and nationally accredited. “We strive to attain the highest levels of training and education. We focus our work on community, service, and involvement,” said Police Chief Blaine Wade.
The department is proactive in crime prevention involving youth, adult, and senior citizens. Officers participate in outreach education at schools to help kids resist drugs and gang activity. They also recruit citizens to attend police academies in order to get to know the officers better and to learn of challenges they face each day.
In celebration of National Police Week each member of the department was invited to partake of a favorite sweet of any police department, doughnuts. Attached to the sweets tray was a note of appreciation for what the officers do every day, helping, serving, and saving, never looking for glory or praise.
“No one can say enough about what the fine men and women of our Police Department bring to their jobs every day, 365 days a year. If you see an officer out and about, especially this week, please walk up to them and thank them for their service. It means a lot to them” said City Manager Bill Sorah.
In 1962, President John. F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Police Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as National Police Week.
For more information on National Police Week contact Chief Blaine Wade at 423-989-5587 or email [email protected].
