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The Rock participates in police week

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joshua King
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The 386th and 387th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadrons combined forces to hold events during police week at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

Police week is an annual remembrance of law enforcement officers that died in the line of duty, not only from civilian agencies but includes the 14 U.S. Air Force Security Forces members that have ended their watch since Sept. 11, 2001, and the coalition partner military police as well.

“It is designed to honor and set up a memorial for the fallen,” said Staff Sgt. Zackery Hull, 386th Security Forces Squadron Pass and I.D. “I was on the same team in Baghdad as one of the fallen defenders, that’s a big reason [this week is important] for me.”

Starting with the opening ceremony on May 13 and concluding with a ceremony on May 19, there were 12 events that made up police week. Some were created to test teamwork and build comradery like the team relay race. Others were for fun such as a donut eating contest.

“We could have stuck to some of the military related themes like just having the K-9 demo but we tried to think outside the box,” said Hull. “We wanted to get people out, get people talking.”

Police week in a deployed environment is similar to that of a stateside base. The big difference is, instead of holding events with civilian police, many events were held with coalition partners.

“Police week is mainly an American event but some of our coalition partners have their own as well,” said Master Sgt. Jennifer Knutson, 387th ESFS flight chief and an El Paso, Colorado deputy. “We might be wearing different uniforms but we have the same goals and desires to do good for people and by people.”

One of the final events, a candle light vigil, which honors a security forces member who made the ultimate sacrifice every hour throughout the night.

“The whole reason we have police week is the vigil,” said Knutson, a reservist with the 50th Security Forces Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base. “Sure we had fun [throughout the week] but it’s all about recognizing and remembering the fallen defenders, that’s what is most important.”