Our state and nation recently celebrated National Police Week. Like Memorial Day, it is a time to reflect on those police officers who have died in the line of duty. I stand in awe of such selfless service.

With each passing year, we ask our men and women in uniform to do more as we realize and comprehend complex community issues, such as mental health and substance use. This, in turn, makes the profession of policing much more complex than it used to be.

As our nation has worthwhile discussions surrounding criminal justice reforms, we must never lose sight of the immense service and sacrifice of our police officer neighbors and valued community members — especially those that threw on their uniforms that one last time and never returned home.

Rep. Justin Fecteau

R-Augusta