Full Notification

ROCKFORD, IL. – May 6, 2010 - In Honor of Police Week and those officers, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, the Rockford Police Department will be hosting an Open House on Monday, May 10th and Tuesday, May 11th at the Rockford Police Department, Public Safety Building from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM each day.

The Public Safety Building is located at 420 W. State Street in Rockford.



The Open House will kick off on Monday May 10th with a short press conference at 4:00 p.m. hosted by Chief Chet Epperson and Mayor Larry Morrissey announcing the new civilian volunteer program, Citizens Assisting Police (CAP).



“We have seen great success in the Citizen’s Police Academy and CAP is a natural progression to involve citizens in public safety. Our focus on community policing invites citizen participation to the greatest extent possible and we feel a CAP will allows that opportunity and will act as a natural complement to our police officers,” stated Chief Chet Epperson.



The Open House, the first held since 1985, will allow the public the opportunity to meet Rockford Police Officers and tour the RPD offices. The event will also include information on the various programs the Rockford Police Department offers including the Citizens Police Academy, Citizens Assisting Police, Neighborhood Watch, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, Eddie Eagle and more. There will also be guided tours of the Public Safety Building. Demonstrations will be given by the K-9 Unit and Bomb Squad displaying the robot in action. The department’s Mobile Command vehicle and SWAT armored vehicle will also be on display. Refreshments will be served.



About Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day



In 1962, a proclamation was signed by President John F. Kennedy which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week of the 15th as “Police Week”. The first official memorial service took place on May 15, 1982. Some recent facts surrounding police week are



· 1,626 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the past 10 years

· Police deaths average one every 53 hours or 163 per year

· There were 116 law enforcement officers killed in 2009, the lowest annual total since 1959.

· An average of more than 58,000 law enforcement officers are assaulted each year, approximately 16,000 injuries have resulted from those assaults