WED, JANUARY 21,  2015 
Videos & Interviews -  Special Event 
RALLY TO SUPPORT OUR 
POLICE OFFICERS
 
 LAKE SUMTER LANDING, The Villages, FL
Sponsored by 
The Villages 10-13 Club
FYI- NYPD code for a cop in trouble is "10-13"       WEAR BLUE

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NY City - FDNY - 343 Society
Paul Algeri - V, The Villages - FDNY- 343 

Rally to Support our Police Offices 
Video of speakers 

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Lee Greenwood's Song "God Bless the USA"
"And I'm proud to be an American / Where at least I know I'm free / And I won't forget the men who died / Who gave that right to me" 

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Villagers rally in support of police in event at Lake Sumter Landing
January 21, 2015 By Staff Report

NYPD retiree Bob Byrne and Donna Vallance, from Springdale Village, were at the rally.

A large crowd came out Wednesday afternoon at Lake Sumter Landing in The Villages to express their support for law enforcement officers and first responders everywhere.

After the invocation, by Father Gregory from St. Timothy’s Catholic Community, President of The Villages NYPD 10-13 Club Mike Spalding introduced club member Tom Troisi whose idea it was to hold the Lake Sumter Landing rally.

The Phillip DeLong Marine honor guard posted the colors.

“The police willingly put themselves in harm’s way every day,” Father Gregory said. “That’s not to say that no one ever makes mistakes performing their duties — but we are here to support members of law enforcement, who are there for our welfare. They protect us from chaos, rescue those in distress, and assist the severely injured — even while under attack themselves by the very citizens they are sworn to protect. Help them, oh Lord, who stand between us and harm.”

Troisi thanked Villages District Manager Janet Tutt, Recreation Department Director, John Rohan, and active and retired police and firefighters from all over Florida for joining him at the rally.

Sumter County Sgt. Robert Siemer, Sheriff Bill Farmer, Lady Lake Police Chief Chris McKinstry and Lt. Robert Tempesta, from left, attended the rally.

“Thank you to CERT, to Community Watch, and to the firefighters who brought their trucks and flag. I see veterans, various club members and first responders here from Fruitland Park, Leesburg, Wildwood, Citrus, Hernando, Pinellas and Volusia counties. Thank you Sumter County Sheriff W.O. ‘Bill’ Farmer and I see Leesburg Police Captain Max Parker. Thank you to Donna Hinkle from Clown Alley #179 — I see eighteen clowns here.”

He reminded those in attendance that police officers are the first line of defense.

“Without them, we have anarchy. In December, I spoke to our Villages NYPD 10-13 club about what is happening in New York City and St. Louis — regarding the negative press — and groups of protesters saying: ‘What do we want? Dead cops. When do we want it? Now.’ This needs to be addressed,” Troisi continued, “And I suggested we have a peaceful rally supporting all our police officers.”

He said Dec. 20 was a sad day for  the New York City Police Department.

Mike Spalding, president of The Villages NYPD 10-13 club, addressed the crowd.

“A loss of two young officers murdered by a lone gunman, responding to the chant for dead cops. On Dec. 21 a Pinellas County sheriff’s officer was murdered and run over; and last month a Leon County deputy was also killed in the line of duty. Gov. Rick Scott signaled to all Floridians to ‘pray for our men and women in uniform, who protect our communities each day.”

Lady Lake Mayor Ruth Kussard also spoke of how police officers are being demonized by criminals today.

“We used to teach our children to respect the police,” Kussard said. “We know the names of Michael Brown in Missouri and Eric Garner of New York. But do we know the names of the dead police officers — Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, and the others who made the ultimate sacrifice? When a police officer is killed, it is not just his department that grieves, it is the entire nation.”

Dennis McLoughlin, from the Plantation in Leesburg, George Gentle, from Lowell, Massachusetts, and retired Constable John Watkins from the U.K

Woodbury Villager Cathy Ahlers, from Beth Page, N.Y., who dressed in red, white and blue, had to park her cart pretty far away from the square, but came out in support of the police.

“This is going to be good for police morale. It will reach the media and the police will see it. OK, there are a few bad cops — but you can’t play armchair quarterback. The vast majority care, and put their lives on the line. They are under fire now more than ever, and I support them.”

Tom Troisi and Col. Harry Lumpkin (U.S. Army Ret.) listen as Dawn DiNome sings the national anthem.

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Mike Spaulding, President NYPD 10-13 Club
Tom Troisi, MC of event & Father Tom, Trustee of 10-13 

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Photo by George Horsford, Daily Sun Greg Wildridge, of the Village of Ashland, salutes during the playing of the National Anthem during the law enforcement and first responder rally Wednesday on Lake Sumter Landing’s Market Square.

Rallying for support
 
Posted: Thursday, January 22, 2015 8:00 am

By MATT STEECKER / Daily Sun Staff Writer

After hearing protesters in New York City chant, “What do we want? Dead cops. When do we want it? Now,” Villager Tom Troisi knew something had to be done.

“We have a chant now,” said Troisi, a former New York police officer and member of The Villages NYPD 10-13 club for police retirees. “What do we want? Support our police and first responders. When do we want it? Now.”

Hundreds of people shouted the chant twice Wednesday at Lake Sumter Landing Market Square during a pro-police rally organized by the club — an event designed to show gratitude for law enforcement officers and first responders everywhere.

One out of every four or five people in the crowd was wearing a blue shirt.

Before the rally, about 40 people from the Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Inc. circled the square.

Signs read, “Every Human Life Is Precious,” “Police Are Not Pigs,” “BxTF” (Bronx Task Force), “Wake Up America Support Law + Order,” “Thank Police Today” and “We Support Our First Responders.”

Participants in Wednesday’s rally expressed their confidence and trust in law enforcement, in sharp contrast to recent anti-police protests across the country spurred by the killings of unarmed men by police in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City.

The shooting deaths of two New York officers in Brooklyn last month by a man who may have been avenging those deaths has widened a rift between Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD officers.

But Sumter County Sheriff Bill Farmer said that in Sumter, law enforcement and local government stand together.

“I could talk of Ferguson and New York and Brooklyn, and I could talk of mayors not supporting their departments,” Farmer said, drawing a reaction from some in the crowd. “I could tell you of councils and commissioners who don’t support their department, but I will tell you of our county commission with one goal: to provide the best public safety, the best deputies and the best first responders.”

Few places around the country could draw such a large crowd to support law enforcement, Farner said. He thanked residents for their support of officers.

“Without your support, their jobs would be more difficult,” he said.

He finished by saying law enforcement officers have a hard job, but are up for the challenge, including the new challenges they will face in the future.

Before Farmer, Bill Gladson, an assistant state attorney supervisor in the 5th Judicial Circuit and former law enforcement officer, spoke to the crowd and thanked local police officers.

“What you do is allowing people to achieve the American dream,” he said.

He mentioned that officers do this without seeking — or typically receiving — recognition.

Officers are “not looking for attaboys,” he said. “You are doing what is the right thing to do because you care.”

He also spoke about how officers cooperate with prosecutors, showing up for court hearings even though they may work odd hours.

“You’re tired and exhausted, but you’ll do it,” he said.

“The Star-Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America” were played at the rally. Current and retired law enforcement officers took pictures with residents after the rally was over.

Troisi, who came up with the idea for the rally, said he was happy to see the large crowd.

Matt Steecker is a staff writer with The Villages Daily Sun. He can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9176, or matthew.steecker@thevillagesmedia.com.
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