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"Jail time" highlights Police Week

  • Published
  • By Airman Elliott Sprehe
  • 27th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Airmen throughout Cannon were served warrants May 15 and hustled into jail by members of the 27th Security Forces Squadron, where they forlornly sat, watching cars drive through the main gate.

Luckily, for those Airmen who in confinement, they hadn't actually done anything wrong. They were part of "jail and bail", one of a myriad of events that took place May 13-19 as part of National Police Week.

May 15 is National Peace Officers Day and the nation has commemorated it since 1962 when President John Kennedy signed Public Law 87-726.

The 27th SFS kicked off police week May 13 with a motorcycle rally at High Plains Harley Davidson shop. On May 14, the 27th SFS held an internal event where members of the squadron competed against each other in a variety of events.

May 15 was the "jail and bail" day when anyone on base could pay 50 cents a minute to hold someone in the holding cell just inside the main gate at the airpark.

Tech. Sgt. Matthew Burgess, an instructor at the Airman Leadership School, was one of many 'perpetrators' briefly held, but he repaid his debt to society by paying for all 32 of the current students at the ALS to spend a few minutes in the cell.

Proceeds from the "jail and bail" event were donated to the Security Forces Defenders Club, which uses the funds collected for future events to enhance unit morale, said Master Sgt. Morris Barnes, 27th SFS.

On May 16, 27th SFS hosted a weapons display and a military working dogs demonstration at the sase exchange, as well as fingerprinting for the kids and an appearance by McGruff, the crime dog.

A pistol shoot was held on May 17, and Retreat Ceremony at 4 p.m. on May 18 in front of wing headquarters remembered and honored fallen police officers nationwide.

A softball tournament and barbecue wrapped up the weeklong string of events on May 19, concluding activities of the 44th annual National Police Week.

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