It all started with the dogs.
Police canines bond with their handlers and, often, with their families as well. When a police dog gets too old and infirm to perform the challenging, often life-saving tasks required, they are usually allowed to go home with their loving handlers for retirement. They have years of happy life left, but may not be appropriate for adoption by untrained owners.
For years, veterinary costs of these retired dogs were met by the City of Alexandria, at least on paper. But not always in real life, leaving the handler families with significant and ongoing medical costs.
In 2002 the Alexandria Police Foundation was formed, at the urging of then-Alexandria Police Chief Charles Samarra and led by Shawn McLaughlin of McLaughlin Ryder Investments, to fund medical insurance for these important animals. Since then the Police Foundation’s focus widened to include providing Segways for patrol officers, underwriting specialized anti-gang training, arranging a grant to operate the APD Wellness Program to promote fitness and health and purchasing the SafeAssured Child ID program for community events.
According to Police Chief Earl Cook, “Without the support provided by the Alexandria Police Foundation, our department would not be able to provide the service, protection or quality of life that those who reside, work, and visit our City have become accustomed to.”
The Foundation’s biggest effort, however, culminated this year with the dedication of the Alexandria Police Fallen Officers’ Memorial, commemorating the lives and service of the 18 officers and watchmen who have given their lives protecting Alexandria since the founding of the Police Department in 1870. With no city funds available to move forward with a long-planned memorial at police headquarters, the Foundation, with Chairman Willem Polak, president of Potomac Riverboat Company at the helm, conducted a public fund-raising effort and collected the entire architectural, planning and construction cost of the memorial, which opened this March 28. The 18 officers enshrined on the glass memorial markers represent the fourth-highest total of fallen among communities in the state of Virginia.
Now, the Police Department and the Alexandria Police Foundation are gearing up for the annual celebration of Police Week.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Names of fallen law enforcement personnel are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on E St NW in Washington, D.C. and new names are unveiled each year during a candlelight vigil during Police Week. This year, the vigil is May 13, at 8 p.m.
During Police Week, Alexandria hosts the annual convention of the survivors’ support group Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S) at the Hilton Mark Center on Seminary Road. Hundreds of family and friends of fallen officers from across the nation come together to grieve, learn and bond.
The Alexandria Police Foundation continues its efforts to provide support and enhance the efforts of the Alexandria Police Department. Fundraising is ongoing and tax-deductible donations are always welcome. Its website is alexandriapolicefoundation.org, and may be reached by telephone at 703-746-1909.
Mark Bergin was an Alexandria Police officer for 28 years, retiring as a lieutenant in 2014. Prior to police service, Bergin was a reporter for the Alexandria Gazette from 1983 to 1985.