When cops are out grilling on the Bldg. 1 lawn, it must be Police Awareness Day. Under a brilliant spring sky, NIH’s finest welcomed employees and their children, NIH Fire Department colleagues, as well as visitors from Montgomery County Police, Rockville City Police, U.S. Park Police, Military Police and other departments. All gathered on May 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the annual observance.

“It’s all part of National Police Week,” said NIH Chief of Police Alvin Hinton, “to honor law enforcement officers who’ve paid the ultimate price.”

The event drew hundreds of folks who queued for barbecue, caught K-9 demos with bomb-sniffer Coco and clustered around Park Police horses 38 Karat and Stonewall.

“We long ago realized,” said Montgomery County Chief of Police Thomas Manger, in his first visit to NIH Police Awareness Day, “that if our own agencies work together, it enhances public safety for everybody.”

The week’s events honor law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, including 181 officers killed in 2007. NIH flags flew at half-mast on May 15 in honor of this sacrifice.