National Police Week offers inside look

  • Published
  • By Stephen Delgado
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  We often see police cars around the base, or we occasionally see a military working dog at an event, but most of us don't have the opportunity to see and understand how many functions the 56th Security Forces Squadron is involved in.

Saturday through May 27 is National Police Week at Luke Air Force Base. The 56th SFS will offer events throughout that time to the Luke community showcasing the many aspects of SFS, according to Staff Sgt. Cambria Odell, 56th SFS police services NCO-in charge.

The highlight of the week will be a retreat ceremony held at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the base flagpole. The retreat will be held in remembrance of the 18 security forces members from the 56th Security Police Squadron who were killed during a mission to rescue the American merchant ship, the SS Mayaguez May 15, 1975.

The Mayaguez incident, from May 12 to 15, 1975, has prompted historians to call it the last official battle of the Vietnam War. The seizure of the American merchant ship by the Khmer Rouge prompted an American military response. May 15, 1975, is remembered as a dark day in 56th SFS history. They lost 18 members of their squadron in a helicopter crash. The squadron was part of the SS Mayaguez rescue operation. The SS Mayaguez was sailing from Hong Kong to Sattahip, Thailand.

After negotiations failed, President Gerald Ford decided to launch a rescue operation which resulted in the deaths of 41 Americans, including the 18 Airmen, as well as 44 wounded and three missing in action. The Khmer Rouge did release the crew.

For more information on the National Police Week, call Tech. Sgt. John Pillarella, 56th SFS military working dog NCO-in charge, at (623) 856-6742.

Police Week Activities

· Police demo: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in front of base exchange. Local and base agencies will give demonstrations and gun locks will be handed out.
· Carwash: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at the base theater. Half of the proceeds will go to the Vietnam Security Police Association.
· Refuse to be a Victim seminar: 3 to 4:30 p.m. Monday at McViper's Irish Pub taught by Master Sgt. Christopher Sinerius, 56th Security Forces. The seminar is a nationally recognized crime prevention program designed to increase people's level of awareness to the psychology of the criminal mind, home and phone security, automobile and travel security, personal and technological security, self-defense devices and training options.
· Kids event: 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Luke Air Force Base Child Development Center. Events include Stranger Danger taught by William Schemers, 56th SFS; kickball vs. the cops, fingerprinting, face painting and more.
· Shooting competition: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the CATM. Competitors may use their own guns with ammo or CATM will supply military issue 9mml with ammo.
· SS Mayaguez Retreat: 4:30 to 5:10 p.m. Thursday at the base flagpole. Guest speaker is Phil Carol from the Vietnam Security Police Association.
· Grand opening: 11 a.m. May 20 at the new military working dogs kennel. This is first "green" kennel in the Defense Department. Guest speaker is Phil Carol.
· Golf tournament 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 27 at Falcon Dunes Golf Course.
For more information, call Tech. Sgt. John Pillarella at (623) 856-6742.