Dear Friend of Law Enforcement,

Your Arlington Police Department is a nationally accredited organization, meeting over 400 professional standards. Every officer is dedicated to our core values of courage, competence, commitment, compassion, integrity, respect and restraint. They work diligently to protect the lives, liberties and properties of every person, preserve the peace, and prevent crime and disorder. You can rely on us to "answer the call."

Unfortunately, with such a mission there are sacrifices. In times such as September 11, 2001 officers are asked to put aside family and personal safety to answer the call to serve those in need. In the 64 years of existence as a police department, five officers have made the ultimate sacrifice. In 1954 Detective Russell Pettie was shot and killed by a mentally ill man; in 1964 Motorcycle Officer Arthur Chorovich was killed in a vehicle accident; in 1972 Officer Israel Gonzalez was killed during the commission of a bank robbery; in 1973 Officer George Pomraning was killed while transporting a prisoner; and in 1977 Officer John Buckley was shot and killed while responding to a bank alarm. Many others have sacrificed blood, sweat and tears for the sake of community.

These sacrifices were made freely and without the expectation of honor, praise or recompense. They believed, as we do, that their actions and sacrifices forged a safer, better and stronger community. It is in this spirit that we invite the community to continue the work these men began, creating the future by honoring the past.

A leadership group within the police department has designed a statue to remind us of our commitments, renew our faith in the worth of our sacrifices and honor those who have worked to create the community we enjoy today. The statue is the image of an Arlington Police Officer whose body stands firm against the forces that wrench society and whose face reflects the promise of a better future.

The leadership group has secured $50,500 to fund this statue with federal grant monies, which is half of the required money. If you wish to accept our invitation to participate in creating the future while honoring the past, please send your contribution to:

Captain Mary Gavin
Arlington Police Charitable Fund
c/o Arlington County Police Department
1425 N. Courthouse Rd.
Arlington, Virginia 22201

This page was last revised on: December 10, 2004.