Proclamations Honor DPS Staff Memebers
Correction officers, correction employees, deputy sheriffs, narcotics enforcement investigators, and nurses were celebrated and honored by the Department of Public Safety and Governor David Ige on Thursday.
Three proclamation ceremonies were read at the state capitol.
“We thank our state law enforcement officers, correctional officers and nurses for their service and sacrifice, and for performing their duties with honor, respect and integrity,” said Governor David Ige. “We recognize the dangers and hazards of their jobs and we honor them for safeguarding and caring for our citizens across the state.”
Governor Ige began by honoring National Corrections Officer and Employees Week, which runs from May 1 through May 17. In his recognition, the governor honored employees of all State prison and jail facilities for their role in safeguarding the citizens of Hawai’i by mediating, counseling, and mentoring inmates, all while providing the safe, secure, and humane incarceration of offenders within their custody.
During the meeting, Governor Ige also went through a National Nurses Week proclamation, which runs from May 6 through May 12. He recognized nurses who work in correctional facilities providing care for the increasingly complex needs of the patients and inmates the prisons and jails are tasked with securing.
Governor Ige then honored the State Sheriff Division and Narcotics Enforcement Division by presenting them with the proclamation for National Police (Law Enforcement) Week, which runs from May 15 through May 21. He also acknowledged May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
The Law Enforcement Memorial is planned for law enforcement officers who have fallen in the line of duty in Hawai’i, according to Governor Ige, who also praised the Sheriff Division and Narcotics Enforcement Division for their hard work.
“We take this opportunity in the month of May to thank all of our staff in the Department of Public Safety,” said Director Nolan Espinda. “We are grateful to our public servants who are sworn to protect public safety at all times while running safe and humane correctional facilities, providing professional health care services to our incarcerated population, and protecting our state properties while providing statewide law enforcement services to the people of Hawai’i”.