The following statement was issued today by Tom Marshall, Minister of Justice & Attorney General. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

National Police Week

I rise this afternoon to advise that May 9-15 has been designated National Police Week.

During police week, the RNC and RCMP in this province will coordinate activities and displays in communities, schools and through a public service campaign promoting the concept of police and community working together to enhance public safety and security.

The theme for police week is Your Community, Your Police and You. Activities planned for this week have been organized to encourage partnerships to build safer communities and to provide information encouraging the concept that working together is an investment in safety. In recognition of International Peace Officer Memorial Day, a memorial service has been scheduled for Thursday, May 13 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Police week reflects the community-based approach being followed by police agencies across the country, and aims to improve partnerships between policing services and the communities they serve. These partnerships are built through the integration of policing services, individuals and organizations which all share responsibility for the well-being of the community.

In this province, through the RNC and RCMP, we have approximately 725 police officers who work hard each and every day to protect communities and the families who live there. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize police officers across the province for their dedication and commitment to the enhancement of public safety and security. Police week is a great opportunity to acknowledge our police forces for their active community involvement, both on and off the job.

We are proud of the work being done by the RCMP and RNC and support the efforts of our police officers. I encourage awareness and participation in police week activities and continued support of police officers across the province.

2004 05 11                                        1:50 p.m.