Policing is not just a job or a profession to me, but a calling and a vocation, as it is for many of you. In many ways, we serve as the foundations of our communities. Whether those communities are in the United States or in one of the 121 countries represented by IACP members, law enforcement officers are symbols of trust, honor, and integrity. We lead by example, and we lead by action. Our communities are safer, stronger, and better because of those who have dedicated their lives to the law enforcement profession.

However, there are still a myriad of challenges that confront our communities. Over the last few years, we have collectively witnessed events many of us never thought we would see. We have witnessed horrific attacks by groups and individuals who have laid claim to one ideology or another. We have borne witness to senseless violence. After so many years spent working against the abuse of illegal drugs, we continue to witness the devastation of the opioid addiction epidemic.