2016 Police Week Published May 24, 2016 By Senior Airman Kristoffer Kaubisch Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Police Week is a nationally celebrated holiday that is pushed out by congress each year. It started in 1946 by John F. Kennedy Jr., when he designated May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day. As it grew, the week surrounding that day became known as Police Week. We recently celebrated Police Week on Minot Air Force Base, N.D. There were various events ranging from a flag football tournament, a simulated 9mm pistol shoot, a ruck march around base, a 5k memorial run and a "Top Cop" challenge, where different security forces units on base to show off their unique skills and what their unit brings to the table. "Police Week is important because it gives us all a chance to get out in the community in a different light. We're not just cops at that point; we're just out there having fun with everyone else," said Staff Sgt. Alexander Northrup, 5th Security Forces Squadron, non-commissioned officer in charge of police services. "We are enjoying the community, participating in different sporting events and getting to see each other in a different light." Another reason why Police Week is important is because it gives security forces members a chance to show everyone they support their fallen officers and remember them for what they have sacrificed. It also shows base populous the different security forces missions on MAFB, as well as the missions outside of base. "Police week is open to the base populous for the majority of the events," Northrup said. "We want to get as many people involved as possible." Every security forces unit on base was involved, as well as the Office of Special Investigations. They all had a different role, either as a volunteer, participating in the events, or being a point of contact for one of the events. Police week was also opened up to downtown police departments including the Ward County Sheriff's Department Office, Minot Police Department and the North Dakota Highway Patrol. Police week ended on Friday, May 20, at the McAdoo Fitness Center with a closing ceremony in remembrance of all of the fallen police officers, both local and security forces members.