Caledonia Says 'Thank You' to Their Police Officers

With this week being Police Week, a number of community members have offered their heartfelt thanks to the men and women in blue this week.

The week includes area law enforcement officials honoring those who were disabled or died in the line of duty. More than 19,000 names of fallen law enforcement officers are etched into the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial — and more are added every year.

So why is Police Week important?

“Police officers are hired to protect the public,” said Caledonia Police Chief Toby Schey. “It’s important that the public realize the work we do to serve them. Sometimes we put our lives on the line and someone who goes into law enforcement understands that we may have to sacrifice our lives to save someone else. As police officers we do this every day to protect the public."

Schey pointed to what happened with officer Jim Gardiner last week. During a fire, Gardiner broke into a home that was on fire to get a family of four to safety.

"Going into that house that was on fire, I'm sure he didn’t know if he was going to come out alive," Schey said.

Schey said the community has been lucky that no officers have been killed in the line of duty though they have been injured. Still, law enforcement officers have to carry with them all of the stresses of their job.

“We take everyone’s problems home with us everyday and those stresses add up over the course of a career,” Schey said. “That’s why the alcoholism, divorce and suicide rates are so high amongst officers. When people stop and recognize the job we do with a simple ‘thank you,’ it helps to rationalize an irrational world.”

While the Caledonia Police Department hasn't lost any officers during the course of duty, the following officers were killed while on duty while serving the Racine County Sheriff's Department:

Deputy Sheriff Henry Denman
Racine County Sheriff's Department
EOW: Thursday, June 25, 1953
Cause: Vehicle pursuit

Deputy Sheriff George W. Hansen
Racine County Sheriff's Department
EOW: Thursday, June 18, 1953
Cause: Vehicle pursuit

Deputy Sheriff Arthur G. Herman
Racine County Sheriff's Department
EOW: Saturday, May 15, 1920
Cause: Motorcycle accident

Because members of the Caledonia Police Department put their lives on the line every day, we put out a call on Facebook to give the community the opportunity to show their support for their men and women in blue.

Here's what you had to say:

Rosie Olle Thank you so much for all you do in supporting your local baseball / Softball league, All of us in Caledonia, we truly appreciate you. Thank you for keeping an eye on the park for us as well.... Thanks Ed Pestka and Terry Mayne.

Chad Tremelling Thank you for your service to our community. Stay safe.