Reflection and remembrance

FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,The, June, 2007 by Hugh E. Lovell

This evening, I am humbled by the privilege and honor bestowed upon me to address you. Our purpose here is one of reflection and remembrance. Reflection to take time to review the performances of our fellow officers who have been tragically and without warning taken away from us. Remembrance of those families that have been cheated and deprived to remember the love, care, and happiness they once knew and shared with their departed loved one.

Losing a loved one is not easy to overcome from the perspective of those placed in such a position. Those left behind lose the wind beneath their wings and sometimes drift aimlessly. Fellow officers miss the presence of their fallen hero and their source of inspiration, advice, mentoring, professionalism, camaraderie, laughter, and peculiar mannerisms.

Today, some of us continue to weep and mourn their loss, as well as miss them. Let us neither mourn nor miss them too long for "weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning." The joy is in the knowledge that those gallant men and women died in the pursuit of what they loved doing best--selflessly protecting the lives of every one of us and creating a safe and secure environment in which all citizens can go about their daily business in peace.

Law enforcement is amoebic in nature; so are societies. As such, we, as practitioners, must adapt to keep pace with the changes because change, my fellow officers, is the only constant factor in life. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to find ways and means and devise systems to stem the ever-increasing tide of crime and criminal activities. We also must try our utmost best to engender a feeling of camaraderie among ourselves by looking out for one another and being kind, trustworthy, respectful, and understanding, thereby upholding the ideals of this honorable institution.

It is common knowledge that the problems and challenges faced by law enforcement officers are similar throughout the world, and it is mandatory that we share our thoughts and ideas to fight this scourge of crime and criminal activities within our respective jurisdictions. Let us be our brothers' keeper and a bundle of sticks that cannot be broken. For "united we stand and divided we fall." We cannot afford to fall because anarchy will reign to the detriment of our nations.

To the wives, husbands, children, mothers, fathers, and siblings of all those heroic men and women, I say thanks for giving them to us. You, as well as the people and, by extension, the nation, have benefitted immensely from their services. May God continue to bless you with good health, strength, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and guidance to do the things that would have made your dearly departed loved one proud.

Assistant Superintendent Lovell of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service delivered this speech on July 26, 2006, at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

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