Video Transcript

Hello, I’m Don Voiret, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Seattle Field Office.

During National Police Week, I’d like to acknowledge police officers, who hold a special place in my heart. I began my law enforcement career as a police officer and have many dear friends, family members, and colleagues who are sworn to protect our cities across the nation.

National Police Week normally takes place in May, but this year, it takes place in October due to these uncertain times.

Police Officers regularly deal with uncertainty and risk as part of their daily lives. Each day, these dedicated men and women put themselves in harm’s way when that call comes to keep us safe. They often accept great personal risk to serve their communities. They serve on nights, weekends, and holidays and leave their families to protect ours. We depend on them and expect them to answer that call promptly every time.

Here at the FBI, police officers work alongside our special agents on criminal and national security investigations to help us perform our mission. We couldn’t do our jobs without these partnerships.

I’d especially like to acknowledge the six new names of officers in Washington State who gave the ultimate sacrifice:

• Jonathan Shoop of the Bothell Police Department
• Jon Melvin of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office
• Berisford Morse of the Washington State Department of Corrections
• Justin Schaffer and Renee Padgett of the Washington State Patrol
• Daniel Oaks of the Yakima County Department of Corrections
• Charlie Cortez of the Tulalip Tribal Police Department
• And David Christensen of the Washington State Department of Corrections

We are deeply grateful to their loved ones and departments. Their memories will not be forgotten.

To all the men and women of the law enforcement agencies across Washington State, I thank you and your families for your consistent sacrifice, not only as partners to us here at the FBI, but to all of us as Washingtonians and American citizens.