Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody made a stop in Kissimmee Wednesday to honor the Kissimmee Police Department as part of her “Thin Line Tribute” program.
“This is a very important tribute we do today,” she said. “Law enforcement so often ends up getting noticed when things go incredibly right or disastrously wrong. While it may not end up on TV, some of the heroic things like a welfare check, or saving a wandering senior, make our communities safe and strong. It takes bravery just to sign up for this job; it truly is a calling, a valued, noble profession.”
In May, Moody created the program to recognize “the courageous and often thankless work of front line law enforcement officers,” and honor those who put on their badge and gear every day and protect communities like Kissimmee. Wednesday she noted a “rapid rise of disrespect” for the badge.
“As a community, we owe them fore being able to sleep well at night,” she said. “It’s Important to frequently remind them that we’ve got their back.”
KPD Chief Jeff O’Dell said this sort of affirmation — something those in uniform don’t actively seek out — is “exactly what our officers need.”
"This job is so much more difficult than when I started as a cop 35 years ago, and they need that to reinforce the reason they put on the uniform,” he said. “I sincerely thank our Attorney General for her unwavering support of law enforcement, every minute of her tenure.”
Kissimmee Mayor Olga Gonzalez said that, thanks to Kissimmee Police Department’s work, a city of 80,000 can feel safe.
“Thanks to our law enforcement officers, we can safely enjoy this beautiful city. Having our heroes recognized in this initiative is truly and honor,” Gonzalez said. “KPD is more than an agency — it’s a family.
Moody’s launch of Thin Line Tribute comes on the heels of a devastating year for the law enforcement community, between losing personnel to the COVID-19 pandemic, and responding to unrest that saw the number of officers killed in the line of duty nationwide more than double in 2020 compared to the previous year, totaling more than 360 officers lost at year's end, and as challenges continue for the
brave men and women of law enforcement.
