The police force is essential to keeping our community safe. They wear the badge of courage to protect and serve the community at all costs. Officers often face unknown and risky challenges when they receive emergency calls, sacrificing their time and lives to protect and serve.
According to PoliceWeek.org, National Police Week, which runs from May 12th to May 18th, honors officers with a week of honor, commemoration, and support, while allowing law enforcement, survivors, and citizens to come together and pay respect to those in the line of duty. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy issued a proclamation declaring National Police Week, as noted on the website.
With its annual Police Foundation Ball, the Fayetteville Police Foundation kicks off the last day of National Police Week in style. The ball will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at the Crown Coliseum.
Now in its seventh year, this exquisite event allows police department employees to dress in their finest tuxedos and gowns while presenting and awarding deserving officers and police department staff for their hard work and service.
Police Department employees, employees’ guests, and sponsors will be given priority seating. Tickets are $75 for a single and $150 for two guests. Anyone interested in sponsoring an officer and their guest can contact the Fayetteville Police Foundation.
Like police forces across the country, the Fayetteville Police Department must keep up with crime-fighting strategies and innovative technologies to make the community safe. The Fayetteville Police Foundation helps make it possible, as its goal is to support the needs of law enforcement officers as strategies and procedures become increasingly complex. The Foundation also helps raise officers' morale, provides medical services for canines, and much more.
The Foundation also organizes community-based initiatives such as food drives, Halloween's Trunk or Treat, and Christmas' Operation Yuletide.
The Police Foundation is planning more activities for Police Week, including the 4th Annual Field of Blue, which will honor law enforcement officers and staff from Friday, May 10 at 6 p.m. to Thursday, June 13 at 10:30 p.m.
Field of Blue memorializes the service of those in law enforcement, including canines, other law enforcement staff, and 911 dispatchers, with a flag display as a mark of appreciation for saving lives and protecting the community. The flags will be on display at BJ's Wholesale Club, located at 5200 Red Tip Road. Those interested can purchase a flag for $35.00 at tickettailor.com under "4th Annual Field of Blue" and add a personalized message.
The Police Department will honor its departed officers with a wreath presentation and a prayer on May 17th, the day before the Foundation Ball. This public event begins at 12:30 p.m. at the downtown Police Department at 467 Hay Street.
In addition, the Foundation will sponsor various activities during Police Week, including Doughnuts Day, an outreach initiative partnership with Stacey Buckner, CNN Hero and Executive Director of Off-Road Outreach, Proclamation Day and a free lunch as a gesture of gratitude to the Police Department.
The foundation's sponsors, such as Tommy's Express Car Wash, Jersey Mikes, Luigi’s, and Mission BBQ, to name a few, have generously contributed to the Police Foundation as a token of their appreciation.
"A simple act of kindness can let the officers know their appreciation," Melissa Reid, Executive Director of the Fayetteville Police Foundation, stated. The event is a better way to give back to those safeguarding our community to make it a better place.
For further information about becoming a sponsor, sending thank-you notes to law enforcement staff, donating a flag in honor of a law enforcement employee(s), or purchasing tickets, please contact Melissa Reid at the Police Foundation at 910-433-1746 or by email at fay.policefoundation@gmail.com.
Readers can also visit www.fayettevillepolicefoundation.org to learn more about the Fayetteville Police Foundation.

(Photo: The outside of the Fayetteville Police Department on Hay St. in Fayetteville.  Photo by Tracey Morrison)