Lake George Law Enforcement Officers Weekend kicks off Friday; fallen heroes to be honored

Austin Glickman was a New York City Police Academy recruit when he first envisioned a weekend retreat for law enforcement officers. It was the fall of 2014, and polarizing politics combined with raw, undigested video going viral across social media platforms resulted in a barrage of negative publicity for police departments across the nation.

Law enforcement is inherently a stressful occupation. Glickman saw that the constant negative news coverage was exacerbating this stress. The Thin Blue Line needed a pressure relief valve. Glickman’s plan: Bring them to Lake George for a weekend of relaxation with social activities, friendly competitions and educational seminars. Lake George Village Mayor Robert Blais, who served in law enforcement before entering politics, supported the idea and helped bring Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) weekend to Lake George.

This weekend, May 19 – 21, officers and their families will attend the first annual Leo Weekend. According to Glickman, now an NYPD officer working in Harlem, they are expecting 200 – 300 for the inaugural event. The numbers will swell on Saturday, May 20, when an estimated 400 motorcycle officers with Blue Friday of New York will make a memorial ride from Albany to Lake George to honor fallen NYS Trooper Timothy Pratt. Pratt was struck and killed by a passing car last October while aiding a motorist outside the State Police barracks in Wilton.

Leo Weekend registration is open to all active and retired officers in state, county and local departments including corrections officers, probation and parole officers, District Attorneys and public safety personnel. Registration includes admission to the opening reception, seminars, social hours, a chicken barbecue and steep discounts at area attractions. The Fort William Henry Resort is serving as the host hotel and will be the activity hub.

Several of the weekend’s events are open to the public. The Chicken Barbecue will be held at the Fort William Henry Saturday at 6 p.m. cost is $20 for guests not registered with LEO Weekend. Tickets are still available for the Leo Weekend Comedy Show at King Neptune’s Pub.

Saturday, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. there will be a flag football tournament and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. an MRAP (armored vehicle) pull. Both these events will be held at the Festival Commons in Wood Park.* Spectators are welcome.

*Update: The flag football has been removed from the schedule and the MRAP Pull has been moved to the Fort William Henry Hotel.

Friday, May 19, 6 p.m. – 1 a.m. is the Heroes Matter – Protect and Serve Party at the Fire & Ice Bar & Grill on Canada Street. The party, organized by 4s4life, is a fundraiser for families of two officers who succumbed to Ground Zero-related cancers and Albany Officer Kevin Meehan, who is currently battling cancer. The event features live music by country rock band Against the Grayne and DJ Primetime Cush, food and beverage discounts, raffles, event t-shirts and an auction with a couple of big items up for bid – a Sagamore golf package and a two-night stay with Adirondack Safari Company.

Fallen officers will not be forgotten this weekend. According to Glickman, 48* law enforcement officers have been added to the Officers Down Memorial Page so far this year, an increase of 30 percent over this time last year. They will be honored Sunday morning at a 9 a.m. memorial service in Shepard Park. The memorial service will include a roll call of the fallen, performance by the NYS Corrections Emerald Society Pipe Band and speeches by local officials. The public is invited.

*Update: Austin Glickman notes that since this article was published, another two names have been added to the Officers Down Memorial Page bringing the total number of fallen officers in the U.S. this year to 50.

Glickman is encouraged by the interest shown in the first Law Enforcement Officers Weekend and expects the event to grow each year. Participants are coming from across New York as well as Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. “We even have a State Trooper from Illinois coming with his family,” Glickman says.

Law Enforcement Officers Weekend is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit. Glickman has set up a GoFundMe page to collect donations, which will be used to bring Blue Star families to the event free of charge. Over the past two months, the effort has raised $1,145. LEO Weekend will continue to accept donations to pay for Blue Star families’ attendance at future LEO Weekends.