Program Honors Officers, Families of Those Killed in Line of Duty

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania State Police and a national organization are urging the public to show support for law enforcement officers and families of officers killed in the line of duty by participating in Project Blue Light this holiday season.

"We are asking residents and businesses to include blue lights in their holiday decorations, place a single blue light in a window, or tie blue ribbons on car antennas as a way of honoring our fallen and active officers," said Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski.

Pennsylvanians were again reminded of the dangerous nature of police work with the recent deaths of Penn Hills Police Officer Michael Crawshaw, 32, of Verona, Allegheny County, and Bethlehem native Mark Renninger, 39, who was a police sergeant in Lakewood, Wash.

Crawshaw was fatally shot Dec. 6 while responding to a home where a second man was found shot to death inside. A suspect is in custody. Renninger was one of four Lakewood police officers gunned down Nov. 29 by a suspect who later was shot to death by a Seattle police officer.

Pawlowski noted that seven law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty in Pennsylvania this year.

Project Blue Light was developed by Concerns of Police Survivors Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Missouri which represents more than 15,000 families of officers killed in the line of duty.

"Everyone who appreciates law enforcement should get involved with Project Blue Light," said C.O.P.S. President Jennifer Thacker of Louisville, Ky. "Project Blue Light allows citizens to show support for law enforcement and the heroes who have been killed in the line of duty."

"The color blue is symbolic of peace," Pawlowski said. "By displaying blue lights, you will be sending a dual message -- that you support America's peacekeepers and that you hope 2010 will be a year of peace."

Additional information about C.O.P.S. is available at www.nationalcops.org.

For more information, visit www.psp.state.pa.us or call 717-783-5556.

Media contacts: Lt. Myra A. Taylor or Jack J. Lewis, 717-783-5556

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police Department

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.state.pa.us
http://www.nationalcops.org
http://www.psp.state.pa.us