Honoring the call. Enduring risk. Standing guard. Taking the point. Confronting evil. Laying down one’s life for a stranger.

There is no greater love.

This is the significance of choosing to serve. You are a servant for the sake of others.

You have taken vows to be true in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love and honor all the days of your duty life. You are married to the community as your vocation.

And, sometimes, one (or both) of you wants a separation or divorce! This is understandable. You suffer. Sometimes greatly. And yet, you continue to choose every day to protect and serve the community. That is your job, and you are the faithful spouse.

They didn’t lose their lives. They gave them. To those brave 243 officers, thank you for taking the point in those moments on our behalf.

Thank you for loving us even when our warts are many and ugly. Thank you for respecting us even when we turned our backs on you. Thank you for communicating with us even when we covered our ears to your wisdom and guidance. Thank you for persevering for us even when, at times, our relationship is hanging on by a thread.

Costs and benefits of serving

The costs of serving are steep. There were 243 officers killed in the line of duty last year.

They didn’t lose their lives. They gave them. To those brave 243 officers, thank you for taking the point in those moments on our behalf.

The most common causes of law enforcement deaths last year were COVID-19 (80), gunfire (60), TCs (32), vehicular assault (14), heart attack (12) and 9/11-related illness (10). The most common months when officers died were at the start of the year — January (53), February (40) and March (25). The largest states had the largest number of officer deaths — Texas (35), New York (18) and California (12), with the U.S. government experiencing 13 deaths. The majority of deaths were of men (220). The average age was 45. The average tour of duty was 15 years and four months. There were also 25 K-9 line-of-duty deaths, primarily due to gunfire (11) and heatstroke (six).

See the Officers Down Memorial Page at tinyurl.com/5vw69bv8 to view each officer on the 2022 Honor Roll of Heroes. You can view each name, the thumbnail image, the agency, the end of watch and the cause of death. You can also view the breakdown of the total line-of-duty deaths, and you can search previous years for your fellow patriots.

The costs of choosing to serve are steep indeed, but the benefits are steep as well. Law enforcement work offers tremendous meaning and purpose, noble ranks, a variety of work tasks, fraternal camaraderie, opportunities for problem-solving skills, meaningful financial compensation and benefits, opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of individuals and communities even for generations yet to be born, self-respect and so much more. While it may be viewed as a cost, one known benefit of choosing to serve is the potential to lay down one’s life for another.

There are many activities during National Police Week that recognize and honor the costs and benefits of choosing to serve. Relevant activities include the Police Unity Tour arrival ceremony, the annual candlelight vigil, the honor guard competition and pipe band competition, the police vehicle display, the Emerald Society/Pipe Band Memorial March and Service, the Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) National Police Survivors’ Conference, the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service and the National Police K-9 Memorial Service.

Honoring those who have chosen to serve

There are many ways you can honor those who have chosen to protect and serve the community. Pick one or more. Show your true colors.

Observe National Police Week. Your participation honors those who risk their lives every day in the line of duty. Law enforcement personnel, survivors and citizens honor, remember and access peer support during this annual awareness week. Hold your own memorial services and events for your department. If you can travel to the D.C. area, attend one or more National Police Week activities there. Go to policeweek.org to see the schedule of events (for law enforcement officers and survivors), view hotel options, make donations, buy new challenge coins and access related hyperlinks; e.g., Blue H.E.L.P., C.O.P.S., the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and many more.

Ride in the unity tour. The Police Unity Tour takes place every year during National Police Week. Cyclists ride for 250 miles from Somerset, New Jersey, to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for those who have died in the line of duty. They ride for those who have died. The unity tour also raises funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum. Consider applying now for next year’s unity tour. Go to policeunitytour.com for more information.

Visit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Immerse yourself in the exhibits. See more than 25,000 artifacts that tell the story of American law enforcement — past, present and future; view the wall of fallen officers; watch the Service and Sacrifice film; run the decision simulator; and engage in constructive dialogue to strengthen community relations. Go to nleomf.org/museum for tickets and other information.

Attend a memorial service hosted by your local FOP chapter. The FOP is the world’s largest law enforcement organization, with more than 2,200 lodges. They are the voice of those who protect and serve, including those who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. Go to fop.net/lodge-locations to find the lodge location nearest you.

Participate in Project Blue Light. Remember a fallen officer during the holiday season by placing a single blue light in your home window. Blue lights, as you know, identify that police are present, and that single blue light in your window signifies that you are keeping that officer in your home and heart during any given holiday season. Consider a flameless, flickering blue candle for the candle-like ambiance without the fire risk.

Pray constantly for officer safety. In this way, you help watch their six. After all, there are more angels and saints on a battlefield than we can imagine, and they need protection to do the job every day. They (and you) help guard the gate.

Share the positive stories. Keep their memories alive, and keep everyone else going strong, too. Cops do good things every day. Cops do heroic things every day. Cops save lives every day. Spread the word.