DA Honors Law Enforcement Officers on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
(McKean County, Pennsylvania)—- January 9th marks Law Enforcement Appreciation Day – a day set aside to recognize the difficult work of our area law enforcement.
They sacrifice their time, their own peacefulness, and, sometimes, their lives.
Every day, we should remember our officers and honor those sacrifices.
Their willingness to make those sacrifices at their own peril is exceptional.
But we are lucky that so many McKean County residents do.
No officer knows what his shift will become. Whether a violent domestic incident to a seemingly routine traffic stop – any encounter can turn deadly. Yet they respond as if they have put that knowledge out of their minds.
It is our privilege to work with these officers.
The legacies of Patrolman Steven Jerman and Sergeant David Distrola, who made the ultimate sacrifice, continue to live on and they continue to be recognized and held in a place of honor. This year we lost Lt. Jeff Shade on duty and Trooper Jay Rougeau, raised in Erie County, who was shot and killed. They join Patrolman Jerman and Sergeant Distrola in a place of highest honor. What other career puts them at risk of harm just by wearing a uniform? These gentlemen are truly heroes.
Today and every day we remember and honor these gentlemen.
And we honor all law enforcement officers – Bradford City Police, Bradford Township Police, Foster Township Police, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Police, Otto Police, Smethport Borough Police, Port Allegany Police, Kane Borough Police, Sheriff’s Department, Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania State Police, McKean County Detectives’ Bureau, U.S. Marshalls, McKean County Drug Task Force, McKean County 911, FCI-McKean, SCI-Forest, McKean County Jail, Potter County Jail, Warren County Jail, McKean County Juvenile and Adult Probation, State Parole and family members of our law enforcement.
These officers are family members, friends and heroes.
God bless our officers and their families.
On behalf of the McKean County District Attorney’s Office, thank you.