Newaygo City Council Declares Police Week Newaygo

2016 ceremony at Marshall Park

The Newaygo City Council passed a resolution declaring the week of May 10-16 Police Week Newaygo, honoring the women and men who are tasked with the safety and security of our communities.

“Members of law enforcement deserve the appreciation and respect of the people of the City of Newaygo for the merit, dignity, bravery, and reliability they exhibit every day as they work to protect us,” read the resolution.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls as National Police Week. National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

There are currently 118 law enforcement officers proudly representing the Fremont, Grant, Hesperia, Newaygo City and White Cloud Police Departments, the Newaygo County Sheriff Department and Michigan State Police serving and protecting the citizens in Newaygo County under a countywide Mutual Aid Agreement. 

Since 1791, there have been 23,717 known line of duty deaths in the United State of America, including 595 in Michigan and 4 in Newaygo County. In 2018 alone, 163 law enforcement officers were killed and many more assaulted in the line of duty across the country. The names of these dedicated public servants who made the ultimate sacrifice are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

In 2004 the City of Newaygo established Marshall Memorial Park to memorize Trooper Kevin Marshall. In 2019 Headstones were placed in Marshall Memorial Park honoring and memorizing all fallen Police Officers from Newaygo County including  Village Marshal Benjamin Carpenter, Deputy Gerald Kandler, Trooper Kevin Marshall, Trooper Paul Butterfield.

From the resolution:
“Michigan's and specifically Newaygo County's fallen officers will never be forgotten, nor will their service to their respective communities. By choosing to commit themselves to law enforcement, these brave individuals answered the call for service and willingly put their lives in jeopardy. We commend them for recognizing law enforcement as a noble career, and protecting the public safety, and also, all of those who are serving without incident to date.
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“Our communities rely on these courageous individuals when it is difficult to stand on our own, and we are indebted to the unwavering public service of our city, county and state police. We publicly salute the service of law enforcement officers in our Newaygo County community as well as those of our State and Nation and honor police who place their lives on the line for the safety and security of their communities.”