National Police Week observed

Flags will fly

at half-staff

today

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Flags will fly at half-staff today throughout the nation in honor of the 15,000 police officers who have been killed in the line of duty. Some 150 died last year alone, a 12 percent increase over 1999.

It's part of National Police Week activities in New Ulm and elsewhere; President Clinton signed into law the bill requiring flags to be flown at half-staff over all public buildings.

In conjunction with NPW activities, a new part-time police officer was sworn in Monday and the New Ulm Police Department received its second Harley Davidson motorcycle for general use during the summer.

Aaron Lewandowski, 23, of New Ulm was sworn in as part-time police officer during a ceremony at 2:30 p.m. outside the Law Enforcement Center by District Judge John Rodenberg while department personnel stood at attention behind him.

Lewandowski, who has lived in New Ulm the past 10 years, is a recent graduate from Minnesota State University at Mankato with a degree in law enforcement.

For the past three years, Lewandowski has worked with the park police but did not carry a weapon.

Lewandowski had waited for this opportunity, having dreamed of being a cop since childhood. "When we played cops-and-robbers, I was always the cop," he said.

NUPD accepted delivery of a black, 2001 Police Edition Harley from Mankato Harley, Chief Howard Zins said. The motorcycle's sticker price is $17,000, but the city gets it for one dollar.

"That's a really good deal," Zins said. "The city pays the insurance, gas, oil and maintenance, as well as for the pole light that goes on the back." That, however, can be remounted on future bikes.

"The bike gets 40 miles to the gallon which makes it a lot cheaper to operate than a patrol car, and it will be used for general patrol, funeral, parade and building escorts," Zins said, "so it's like having an extra car."

In order to ride the motorcycle, officers need a motorcycle endorsement on their drivers' licenses, and they must wear helmets, Zins explained.

"The first one we had last year was white, and we found it really brought differing generations together because both young and old liked it," he said.

Zins also took a moment to express his concern about the Minnesota Citizens Protection Act 2001 legislation that is now before the state Legislature. More commonly known as the "carry and conceal" law, Zins said it would put guns into the hands of too many people, and that's bad.

"Right now I issue about three to four permits a year, but before anyone gets one, they have to show proof of need. Then they have to show proficiency on a firing range," Zins said. "Then they get a session on when it's proper to use force. That won't happen under this bill."