The Atlanta Lawyer August/September 2012 | Page 6

law enforcement appreciation National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day By David E. Wardell, CPP Central Atlanta Progress, Inc. & Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, Inc. [email protected] E ach year in recognition of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (LEAD), members of the Atlanta Downtown Interagency Law Enforcement (ILE) partnership hold a public ceremony in Woodruff Park near the site of the Police Memorial, which was dedicated by the Atlanta Bar Association in 1980. The Downtown community and members of the public safety agencies that serve Downtown and the entire city and state participate in the ceremony and memorial service. The event is hosted by Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID), in partnership with the Atlanta Bar Association and Atlanta Bar Foundation. Program activities include spiritual and inspirational remarks by civic and government leaders, selected public safety agency heads, a tribute to fallen officers with a wreathlaying ceremony, an honorary guard comprised of agency members, a bagpipe ensemble, and bugle taps. About the Cover Sgt. B.C. Williams, of the Atlanta Police Department, playing bagpipes at the National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Ceremonies held at Woodruff Park on May 15, 2012. 6 THE ATLANTA LAWYER August/September 2012 David E. Wardell (Vice President, Operations and Public Safety Central Atlanta Progress, Inc. & Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, Inc.) speaking at the Atlanta Interagency Law Enforcement Appreciation and Memorial Service in Woodruff Park. The ILE is comprised of the following 11 public safety agencies, who meet monthly in close collaboration and partnerships to serve the Downtown area: Atlanta Police Department MARTA Police Department Georgia State University Police Department Georgia Tech Police Department Georgia World Congress Center Authority Public Safety Department Georgia State Patrol, Capitol Division Federal Protective Service, DHS National Park Service Fulton County Sheriff’s Office Fulton County Police Emory University Police ■ The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association