Tips for communities on ways to honor local police

Safe communities allow residents to thrive and live their lives to the fullest. Such communities are sought-after places to live, and maintaining a community-wide sense of safety and security is no small task. Local police forces do much to keep their communities safe, so it's no great mystery why residents want to show how much they appreciate the people who ensure their towns and cities remain wonderful places to call home. With that in mind, community residents, small business owners and elected officials can consider the following ways to honor local police. • Offer discounts to law enforcement and their families. Small business owners recognize the vital role local police play in keeping Main Street safe. A safe dining and shopping district is beneficial to business owners' bottom line, and that makes it worth their while to offer discounts to local law enforcement and their families. Local restaurant owners can offer percentage-based law enforcement discounts on food and drinks to active and retired law enforcement personnel and their families. Local shop owners can follow suit. Year-round discounts for law enforcement and their families are a nice token of business owners' appreciation, and such offers can be increased during busy times of year, such as the holiday season. • Showcase officers on social media. Local governments can get in on the act by highlighting a different officer each month on various social media platforms. Interview a new officer each month and highlight their backgrounds and careers. This can be a great way to showcase the talents of local officers and foster strong connections between community residents and the men and women in law enforcement who keep their towns and cities safe. • Feature officers during public celebrations. Parades, holiday bazaars and local scholastic sporting events are some examples of events that bring community residents together. Such events provide great opportunities to thank local law enforcement and bring them into direct contact with residents. Encourage parade attendees to shake hands with featured officers and utilize well-attended community events, such as high school football games, to formally recognize local police departments and officers. A halftime announcement honoring an "Officer of the Month" is one way to showcase officers so residents can put a name and a face on their local police departments. • Support police during town council meetings. Attendance at town council meetings is a good way to remain informed about what's going on in a community, and it also serves as an opportunity to support measures aimed at benefitting local law enforcement personnel. Support efforts to increase salaries for local police officers and upgrade their resources so they can continue to do their jobs to the best of their abilities. There's no shortage of ways for communities and residents to express their appreciation and support for the local law enforcement personnel who keep their towns and cities safe.