National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day says ‘Thank You’ to officers

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - It's National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day! Law enforcement officers have chosen a profession that puts their lives on the line every day for their communities. They've answered a call to public service that is demanding and often unappreciated.

“In Montgomery, we do it more than just one day a year,” said Jack Gallisini with the Kiwanis Club’s C-COPS program, which stands for Concerned Citizens Organized for Police Support. “Every month we do Thumbs Up Thursdays to honor police officers, let them know they’re doing a great job.”

This week, the CCOPS program a deputy from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office, Chase Center, for his life-saving actions while responding to a drug overdose call.

“He was able to get to the scene, administer Narcan, and to bring this person back to life,” Montgomery Sheriff Derrick Cunningham explained. “He went above and beyond the call of duty. He got there, he reacted, and did what needed to be done to make sure this person is able to go to the hospital, get rehab, and take care of that problem.”

Center has only been on the job for about a year. The Kiwanis Club gives out awards like this on a regular basis.

“Kiwanis Clubs, on a quarterly basis, in every county, what they do is they do an award to a state trooper, a deputy and also a police officer,” Gallasini said.

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was founded in 2015 as a way to thank officers across the country for all the daily sacrifices they make for the communities, and to spread encouragement and respect to these dedicated men and women