Dozens of Shawano police and county sheriff’s deputies were on scene at City Hall on Wednesday, but not because there was anything wrong.
They were there to be recognized by the Common Council and hear a mayor’s proclamation ahead of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Friday.
The event announced only last week has already become a communitywide celebration of those serving in public safety.
“As we talked to the community, it was so heart-warming to hear all the support that is out there for all of you,” Mayor Lorna Marquardt told the officers in attendance.
All area schools are participating, Marquardt said, with a number of law enforcement-related projects planned in many of the classrooms. Students on Friday are also being invited to wear either brown (the color of Sheriff’s Department uniforms) or blue in honor of city police.
Council members also wore blue at Wednesday’s meeting.
The business community is also stepping up with posters being put up in their windows expressing support for law enforcement.
The city also has decals showing support for law enforcement that will be available to residents free of charge at City Hall and the Police Department on Friday.
“I’m amazed at the phone calls saying, ‘How many stickers can I get?’” Marquardt said.
The city is limiting it to one sticker per person given the limited number on hand.
“It’s great to have so many people in the community want to display this sticker,” she said.
Marquardt’s proclamation acknowledged “the recent negativity directed toward law enforcement nationally,” which has been fostered by incidents where African-Americans died at the hands of police in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York.
“This isn’t of course just for Shawano law enforcement,” she said. “We’re recognizing law enforcement nationwide. We think they need our support and we hope other communities are doing the same thing because we think it’s very important.”
Police Chief Mark Kohl called the city’s recognition “very humbling” and said it displayed a show of solidarity from city officials not seen in most other communities.
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is being promoted by FBI National Academy Associates Inc. in partnership with other agencies.
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