Vernon recognizes police week

VERNON — The Vernon Town Council on Monday night issued a proclamation recognizing Police Week.
Police Week is designated to run from Sunday, May 13, through Saturday May 19.
Mayor Harry Shortway was on hand to issue the proclamation to Police Chief Randy Mills and Captain Daniel Young.
Mills took the opportunity to thank the mayor and the council upon receiving the Proclamation.
“I’ve been an officer here (Vernon) for 28 years, Mills said. “The support has always been there. We’ve always been able to get what we needed for the citizens of this town. And for that we thank you.”
Shortway, himself, was a police officer, serving in Ridgewood from 1982-1988, and then in West Milford until 2003.
The issued proclamation states that it is, “important that all citizens know and understand the duties, responsibilities, hazards and sacrifices of their law enforcement agency, and that members of our law enforcement agency recognize their duty to serve the people by safeguarding life and property, by protecting them against violence and disorder and by protecting the innocent against deception and the weak against oppression.”
Police week was first started in 1962, by President John F. Kennedy, after he signed a proclamation making May 15 Peace Officers Memorial Day. The week that May 15 falls has become National Police Week.
According to policeweek.org, 25,000–40,000 people attend events, including a candlelight vigil for fallen officers, every year in Washington, DC.
Vernon currently employs 32 police officers, including Chief Mills.
The Vernon Police also operate a Facebook page that acts as an unofficial public announcement system to inform residents.
According to the Township website, the Vernon Police facebook page, “is where we post everything from road closures and community event announcements to up-to-date information during major storm events.