CAPE CHARLES, Va. — The Town of Cape Charles has issued Proclamation #20240418C to recognize National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day and National Police Week 2024, honoring the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers who lost their lives while protecting communities and upholding democracy.
President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 proclamation designated May 15 as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as Police Week. This year, May 15, 2024, is observed as National Police Officers’ Memorial Day, with May 12-18, 2024, marked as National Police Week.
The proclamation acknowledges the dedication of over 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers across the United States, including the committed members of the Cape Charles Police Department. It emphasizes their crucial role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms of Cape Charles citizens and providing essential public service.
Since the first recorded death in 1786, more than 23,921 law enforcement officers in the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, annually commemorates their sacrifice, with hundreds of names engraved on its walls.
On May 13, 2024, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund will host the 36th Candlelight Vigil, honoring the 136 officers lost during 2023. Their names will be read aloud, memorializing their commitment to their communities.
In recognition of these solemn occasions, the Cape Charles Town Council proclaims May 15, 2024, as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, calling for U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff. Additionally, May 12-18, 2024, is designated as Police Week in the Town of Cape Charles, with a public salute to law enforcement officers’ service locally and nationwide.
The proclamation serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers and underscores the town’s gratitude for their dedication to protecting and serving the community.
Hello Ms Pruitt.
I’m still waiting on your paycheck!
If you still need proof, that I called out the chief and the number 2 man in charge. Here’s my proof! Cape Charles Police complaint # 20200716-001. In your own words, I only needed 1 ounce of proof. What is really cool about this is if you don’t pay up. It proves your mouth is writing checks your body can’t cover. And everyone in Cape Charles, will know your true character. I’ll just call you princess keyboard warrior.
You have awakened past memories that I had suppressed for so long. It’s only fair that I share some with you and others about my experience as a lawman.
It’s like respect. It’s not given because someone gives you the title of chief of police or a gold badge. It’s earned from experience and how you handle diversity.
Frankie Scott (VSP) another shift partner.
He stopped on the right shoulder of I395 to assist a disabled motorist on the left shoulder. He stopped all lanes of traffic but forgot about the 4th lane. He was hit by, not 1 or 2 or 3 vehicles but 4. The last vehicle peeled his scalp off his head along with his face.
Frankie survived but couldn’t return to work.
When I was transferred from Arlington to Hampton. I was closer to my hometown of VB. I was looking forward to working with my best friend from the VSP academy Randy Hawkins (77 basic). But that never happened. Randy was hit by a DUI driver. He was forced into retirement at the age of 26.
I have more about my friends.
I also worked my share of fatal accidents too. I was to leave for my family vacation after my shift. My first real vacation. One hour to go on my shift, and I was called to an accident in Stafford County. I arrived on the scene to an overturned vehicle. There were white towels all over the frontyard where the vehicle was resting. I asked the paramedic what was the towels for. He replied, to cover up the brain matter. I’ll tell you, the brain is heavier than you think, when you have to pick it up.The young driver was partially ejected. The front rim of the vehicle sliced through his head. Just above the eyebrows. He was staring up at me. What made this worse was when the parents recognized the vehicle as their son’s and stopped at the scene. The mother fell to the ground screaming and the her husband was trying to hold her back. He was crying too. They begged God that it wasn’t true.I had reached into the driver’s pocket for ID. My hands were covered in blood. It was her son. It was the day after porm. I still have those pictures (I don’t know why).
The screams of the grieving mother. Well, I’ll never forget the screams.
As a Trooper. If you were in involved in a shooting. The state would send you to a psychologist. I was involved in two. But the state never taught you how to deal with death of shift partners or victims.
Everywhere I was transferred to I was working fatal accidents.
Christmas time was no different. I worked another fatal accident. I won’t go into to much detail about the accident. But the estimated speed of the vehicle was 109 mhp. I had to tell a single mother of three that her oldest son was dead. She had just bought him a electric guitar that he always wanted, but she could never afford until now.
Then there was the time I had to get an attorney to represent me. Because I pulled a news reporter out of the cab of an overturned tractor trailer on the ramp to Jefferson ave on I64 west. She was taking pictures of the driver while the paramedics were working on treating him. I kept telling her to let the paramedics work and stay back. She was very persistent and continued to get in the cab of the truck. She did leave, after the fire chief told her she had to go. The reporter left the scene and went directly to my office and filed accomplaint against me. The driver of the tractor trailer died (Should I tell the daughter of the tractor trailer, that the reporter was in the way?)
This is the most I ever spoke about what I been through as a lawman. The images keep flowing though my mind as I write this. But you won’t understand. Now at night it’s hard to sleep again. My mind won’t stop.
Whenever a Trooper was killed or injured. I would call my mom and dad just to let them know, I’m ok, it wasn’t me.My mom would cry a little and my dad would choke up to where he couldn’t speak and then hang up. Mom and dad never asked me to quit. They knew it was something I had to do.
There is so much more Ms Pruitt. The drug raids as point man with ATF and the FBI. The endless paperwork. Missed family events holidays worked.
No one really to talk to, who would understand what you been through. Most people just tell you, they don’t want to hear it.
So like most Lawmen, we sucked it up and carried on.
I can care less what people think of me. Most people couldn’t handle what I did.
And you, you are a nobody hiding between the badge that I represented and my friends gave their life for.
If your husband can’t take the heat. Well it’s time for him to move on.
I’m a retired law enforcement officer and I’ll call all those out that abuse that authority!
There us so much more to tell.
I did get an uncommon Valor award from the Governor. For saving a lady’s life when she tried to commit suicide by jumping in front of a metro train. Spliced my arm open on that one.
No Ms. Pruitt, you have no right to call me out or anyone else. But you may want to ask your husband. Why people think like me about his conduct.
I never told anybody about laying in bed with tears running down my cheek thinking about what I’ve seen or experienced. Never told anybody about how I get on my knees every night and pray to God for help. I’m grateful he looked over me and lead me through my career. My GOD is great.
Never told anyone (except the doctor) that when I go into surgery, the anesthetic makes me bring back my dead friends.
This is the most I ever written about this.There is so much more to tell.
Ms Pruitt you don’t know about me or law enforcement. It easy for you to belittle people because that’s your nature.
One more thing. I didn’t seek the Chief of police job. I was approached for it.
Take special notice of Jiffypop in an earlier post.
Wayne you have my permission to edit, trash it or post it. It doesn’t matter anymore.
I said my peace.
Doug Luther thank you for your service!