We are all grateful to the law enforcement officers who protect us. When wounded on the job, we should know who they are.

I saw the name of a Stafford County Sheriff’s Deputy, who was shot four times the line of duty earlier this week identified today in the media only through court records.

Thankfully, the deputy is on his way to recovery after a successful surgery.

We all respect those in law enforcement who protect and serve us. We, as a community join and rally around them to make a full recovery. We are saddened when they, god forbid, pay the ultimate price.

In this case, a reporter searching through court case records is the only reason we know the name of this brave deputy who is deserving our thanks, admiration, and goodwill.

“Initially, the deputy’s family requested that the injured deputy’s name be withheld. The Sheriff’s office complied with their wishes,” stated Stafford sheriff’s spokeswoman M.C. Moncure.

When three Prince William County police officers were shot in February, one of them fatally, we (the public at large and members of the media) knew the names of the officers within hours of the incident.

The Prince William County Police Department Public Information Office not only released the names to the media on the night of the shootings, but they also posted names and photos of the officers on the department’s social media accounts.

Officer Ashely Guindon paid the ultimate price on her first day on the job. Officers David McKeown and Jessie Hempen recovered, and were celebrated when they returned to the department for roll call — a triumphant moment that Prince William police shared on its social media pages.

In hours after Prince William police told us the names of the brave officers who were shot in the line of duty during a domestic situation, that information was used by citizens to create a rallying cry around fallen officers, and to show support for a police department that serves its citizens.

Within days, 1,000 people gathered at the county’s government center for a candlelight vigil to remember Officer Guindon, and pull together for the speedy recovery of the then hospitalized officers McKeown and Hempen. It was one of the biggest display’s of community support I had seen, and it made me proud to be from Prince William.

In regards to the Prince William department’s decision to tell us the names of its wounded officers, spokesman Jonathan Perok had this to say, “There isn’t a policy in that regard. It was a mutual decision that the department and families came to at the time. We saw a need in releasing the names and the families were consulted and agreed.”

Wouldn’t the Stafford Sheriff’s Office agree the actions of the Prince William County Police Department set a good precedent in this cases like these in the name of transparency, as well as a way to solicit support from its residents?
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In my nearly 20 years experience in local media, the Prince William County Police Department is not alone when it comes to providing its residents the names of its wounded police officers.

We are all grateful to the service given by the men and women of the Stafford Sheriff’s Office, and all law enforcement agencies that work to keep us safe. The ability to identify its members and support them in trying times like these should not be limited to those “in the know” or by those who are forced to search court case records.