Friends of New England Host 6th Annual Police Week Reception
Boston, MA June 4, 2018 – Every May since 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation to designate May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week that follows Police week, members of the law enforcement community have made their way to Washington DC to celebrate Police week. For those officers and other law enforcement workers from New England that includes attending a reception hosted by Friends of New England's Finest (FONEF) and TransCOR Information Technologies. The 'Thank You for Protecting Our Loved Ones at Home' reception started in 2013, after the Patriots Day bombings at the historic Boston Marathon and the days that followed. It gives New England officers and New England natives living in Washington DC a place to reconnect and thank those officers who have protected their communities during difficult times.
Every year the National Law Enforcement Memorial fund adds the names of all the heroes who lost their lives in the line of duty to the memorial and holds a candlelight vigil to honor them. You can view the entire list of those who are honored at nleomf.org. The Officer being honored this year for 2017 from New England was Officer Nathan Michael Desjardins (Fryeburg, Maine PD). As well as Officer Desjardins, additional Previous Line of Duty deaths added to the Memorial in 2018: Detective Christopher M. Gardner (University of Maine, PD); Officer Seth A. Noyes (Boston, Massachusetts); Sergeant Raymond P. Ciminio (Chelsea, Massachusetts), Patrolman Jeremiah Joseph O'Connor (Lawrence, Massachusetts); Patrolman Fredrick Aloysius Bell (Newton, Massachusetts); Sergeant Joseph Shanahan (Revere, Massachusetts).
FONEF and TransCOR are thankful for the generosity of the 2018 co-sponsors of the reception. Panasonic, Bertuccis, Nuance, Sierra Wireless and Massachusetts Police Association have all been long time supporters of the law enforcement communities. With the sponsors help FONEF and TransCOR were able to host and appreciate well over 300 officers from across New England. For the 3rd year in a row the Metro Richmond Emerald Society Pipes and Drums entertained the crowd. TransCOR and FONEF look forward to seeing everyone and more at next year's reception being held on May 13th before the annual Candlelight Vigil.