Remember a cop -- light it up blue

Mention the Buffalo Grove Police Department to someone and there’s a likely chance they’ll grovel, snort and make a less than complimentary remark.

            You know the kind.

            “Like, WTF, all they do is pull over speeders.”

            “They’re never around when my neighbor puts their trash bin out too early.”

            “I mean, really, the village spends so much on police cars.”

            That all changes of course when someone really needs a police officer.  Then it’s a different story.

            The cops in Buffalo Grove generally don’t deal with the issues faced by large urban police departments, but there are times when they have to handle major stuff.

            Of course, there are times when they are called upon to handle dastardly situations – like cookies missing off a kitchen counter, responding a parent’s call for help in getting a lazy kid to go to school or rescuing overly amorous couples off the roof of a strip center.

            Yes, these are all true.

            What’s also true is that the Buffalo Grove Department has a long tradition of community service projects ranging from selling dounts to help children with challenging conditions, to shipping bottled water to the residents of Flint, Michigan.

            The Department, like many police departments, supports fellow officers.

            Monday will not be an exception.

            Monday kicks off National Police Week with Tuesday designated as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.  It’s a day when police departments and communities around the country will take time to remember those officers who died in the line of duty.

            The event will be marked Monday by a brief ceremony at 7 p.m. Monday at Village Hall.  The observance will include the raising of a “Blue Line flag” according to BG’s top cop Steven Casstevens. It symbolizes support and solidarity towards law enforcement, says Casstevens.

            Following the flag raising there will be a moment of silence.

            However, the observance doesn’t end there.

            The Police Department has nearly 200 blue light bulbs available for residents and businesses who want to show their support for not only the Buffalo Grove Police Department, but fallen cops nationwide.

            Bulbs are available at the Police Department, 46 Raupp Blvd. There is a limit of two bulbs per residence or business. Additional information is available by calling (847) 459-2560.

            By the way, the bulbs are free.

            But even if they were not and people had to buy the bulbs – It would be money well spent.