September 2019 End of Watch Monthly Update

Sep 4

August 2019 - 12 Officers Down

August has been a violent and sobering month for members of the law enforcement community. I was brought to a standstill throughout the month as each officer’s story led me to ponder how the person who hurt them could be capable of such evil.

Then as information of the incident in Philadelphia hit the news, I was again brought to a standstill. With six officers shot and two held hostage for several hours on end, all I wanted to do was help, but here I was: sitting waiting on another news update.

As the original situation came to an end, the local law enforcement was met with another challenge: large angry crowds. I watched video footage of officers trying to close the scene and leave the area, but they were being blocked by crowds of people pushing the officers and throwing objects at them. Once again my heart sank as these officers who just spent hours holding the line - even after watching 6 of their friends get shot - are immediately met with an angry mob trying to beat them down. After watching this evolution of events, I found myself trying to imagine the struggle they are going through with their job. They just put their lives on the line for the safety of the public but instead of being met with a thank you, they are being screamed at and pushed around by an ungrateful community.

This situation brought me back to what I can do to help remind them that they still have the support of the people despite their immediate surroundings. This is one of the main missions of End of Watch Memorial Ruck. To show the law enforcement community that they are not alone. That they have the support of the People. That they have family and friends here to hold them up when they are tired and feel beat down. My hope is that officers all over the country will see the people coming together for them and be encouraged by it. The End of Watch Memorial Ruck is more than just a ruck and has more than one mission.

My challenge to you is to get out there and thank an officer however you can.

This Month’s Ruck

In August, we tragically lost 12 officers. We will ruck one mile for each of these officers. As with each month, we suggest a ruck weight of 20 lbs to reflect the average weight of the gear an officer carries each day on duty. If you would like to come out and join us for all or part of those miles, we look forward to rucking with you! Please remember, the weight and distance can be adapted to fit your desired level of activity.

This month’s ruck will be different than in past months. We will be participating in the Pensacola’s Finest 5k for the first 3 of our 12 mile ruck. Once complete, we will then carry on for the remainder of our miles.

Meeting Location:
Seville Square
301 South Alcaniz Street
Pensacola, FL 32502

Meeting Time:
Sept. 14, 2019 @ 7:30 AM (Race Starts at 8:00 AM)

To learn more about this month’s ruck, view the event page on Facebook.