SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 21

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 16, 2021

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Senate Joint Resolution No. 21.

      As reported by the committee, this resolution designates January 9 of each year as “Law Enforcement Officer Appreciation Day” in New Jersey to encourage the citizens of this State to join in the observance of this day and appreciation for the law enforcement officers who serve and protect them.

     Law enforcement officers in this State and throughout the nation routinely are called upon to serve and protect their fellow citizens by responding to horrendous events and acting heroically to save the lives of others. In the past decade, 1,023 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in the United States, 19 of whom worked in New Jersey. Their deaths are a sober reminder that our State’s law enforcement officers face danger every day they carry out their duty to protect the citizens of this State.

      In light of recent negativity directed toward law enforcement nationally, there is a need to show law enforcement officers that our citizens recognize the difficult career law enforcement officers have chosen. Accordingly, it is altogether fitting and proper and within the public interest, to designate January 9 of each year as “Law Enforcement Officer Appreciation Day” in New Jersey.