Candlelight Vigil Finally Starts After Rain Delay

For a while there last night….it was not looking good for the home team, as wild Washington, DC weather threatened to force cancellation of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Candlelight Vigil.

The angry skies cleared up just in time for the show to go on.  Our SCPD team was on hand to participate.  A number of us watched the live-stream of a great ceremony.

Here are some photos sent back from our team in Washington, DC.  

Escorted to the vigil

Speakers and Distinguished Guests

Candles being lit

Elizabeth's family is shown on the big screen

The "Thin Blue Line" over the crowd

A very moving ceremony.  We are proud of the SCPD representation at this event.  Thanks to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for all your work on this week's events.    

SCPD Day Two Highlights From National Police Week and Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Day 2 at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Ceremonies as part of National Police Week.

Our team kept plenty busy with activities and touring.

Officer Ganzel making an outline impression of Sergeant Baker’s place on the wall while Officer Trog appears to be supervising.

The day included a tour of Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals baseball team.   

We secretly put a whammy on the place to help out our Giants in their next visit.  Sergeant Mike Harms heated up in the bullpen…..just in case!

Back here in Santa Cruz, Mayor Robinson presented Deputy Chief Martinez with a Proclamation honoring National Police Week.

The day is wrapping up with a candlelight vigil. 

The Butler family with Officer Karina Cecena

The Baker family at the vigil

Candlelight Vigil crowd gathering

Drum Corps at Candlelight Vigil

Chief Vogel at the vigil

We were able to live-stream the vigil to the police department where we were able to watch the ceremony and feel a part of our family back in Washington.   But....As only Butch and Elizabeth would have it....there was a rain delay of the ceremony.  

As of this hour they have not yet started back up from the rain delay. 
 

Mayor Lynn Robinson and Councilmember Pamela Comstock loaded us up with good things to eat while we waited and watched. 

SCPD Representated in Washington, DC at National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

This week is National Police Week, celebrated and recognized all across this great country of ours.

Chief Vogel, the Baker & Butler families and an additional contingent of 12 SCPD personnel are back in Washington, DC to observe the week and participate in the National ceremonies.

This week holds a number of activities in Washington, DC, to include a ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Memorial to honor those who were killed in the line of duty in 2013.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC and is the nation’s monument honoring federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

The Memorial has two blue-gray marble walls. The walls are carved with the names of more than 20,000 officers who have been killed in the line of duty throughout U.S. history, dating back to the first known death in 1791. This year, 286 names will be added to the wall, including Sergeant Loran “Butch” Baker Jr. and Detective Elizabeth Butler.

 

Kelly produced this frame to leave at the wall.

Here is Elizabeth's spot place on the wall

Today, the events include the arrival of the Police Unity Tour bicycle ride to honor each of the fallen officers.

Tuesday is a candlelight vigil.  Our personnel in Washington D.C. will be present and participating in that ceremony.   We will be live-streaming the candlelight vigil here at SCPD so our staff who could not make the trip can watch the ceremony.

Looks like some of our team infiltrated Sam Farr's Office!!!  We will stop at nothing to get our Federal funding :-)  

Locally, the week will be honored by City Council with a proclamation read by Mayor Robinson at the regular City Council meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

We'll keep you updated with photos as the week progresses.