The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) on July 2 announced Sergeant Matthew Titman of the Bowie, Maryland, Police Department as its Officer of the Month for May 2024. Titman was selected for his actions when he jumped into a pond to save a boy and his dog from drowning.

On Thursday, May 16, Titman responded to a call about a dog in distress at the deep end of a pond at Centennial Park. The dog’s owner, a teenage boy, had entered the water to rescue the dog, but began to struggle and called for help. Titman, who was at the nearby police department, arrived at the scene, removed his gear and entered the water. Using his lifeguard experience, Titman swam 20 yards from the shore to the boy and the dog, calmed them down and brought them to safety. Both the boy and the dog were unharmed.

“These officers are heroes, and their actions serve to highlight the countless acts of valor that often go unnoticed and without the recognition or fanfare such acts deserve,” NLEOMF CEO William Alexander said. “We are humbled and proud to honor Sergeant Titman as our Officer of the Month for May 2024.”

The Officer of the Month Award Program is sponsored by the Police Unity Tour and recognizes federal, state and local officers who distinguish themselves through exemplary law enforcement service and devotion to duty.

—www.NLEOMF.org—

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The first pillar of this mission, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors the names of all the 24,067 officers who have died in the line of duty to date throughout U.S. history. Additionally, NLEOMF maintains and publishes comprehensive details on the circumstances surrounding official line-of-duty deaths. The Officer Safety and Wellness pillar uses that data, coupled with best-practice program models, to produce programming directed at solutions to improve survivability and enhance wellness. NLEOMF’s third pillar, the National Law Enforcement Museum (LawEnforcementMuseum.org) is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come.

Since 2014, the National Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Flower Fund has sent a floral arrangement to the funeral services of every officer who has been killed in the line of duty. This initiative, which has served as the cornerstone of the charity, has sent more than 2,000 arrangements on behalf of its members, costing over $500,000.

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