Seattle Police Awards Banquet 2012

I had the pleasure of being the event planner for this year’s Annual Seattle Police Awards Banquet, the event where officers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty over the past year are awarded for their dedication, commitment and sacrifice.  As a special presentation and to show the Seattle Police Department the extent to which its community supports them, we invited citizens to hold up signs with commendations that had been written over the past year — messages of thanks for what police officers do every day.

This part of the speech I wrote for the Seattle Police Foundation CEO Renée Hopkins sums it up:

“In a year like this when the tide seems against you; when the chorus of criticism rings loudly and seemingly without end, we want you to know that the number of people who support and appreciate you is actually greater than those few voices that overpower the quiet majority.  Contrary to how it may feel to you right now, there are citizens who appreciate what you do every day.”

Here are a couple photos from the citizen commendation portion.  Some read theirs from the stage and others stood proudly around the room holding their signs for all to see.  It was a moving and memorable moment.