News Photo by Temi Fadayomi Mark Bluck, an Alpena city police officer, is pictured by his patrol car earlier this week. This week marks National Police Week in the United States, a week founded in 1962 to acknowledge and demonstrate appreciation for law enforcement officials.

ALPENA — For Alpena County Sheriff Erik Smith, it’s the little things that make his job so rewarding.

“It’s the look on people’s faces when they know I’m here to help,” Smith said earlier this week. “It’s the public service.”

This week marks National Police Week in the United States and both Smith and Alpena City Police Chief Eric Hamp discussed how and why they got into law enforcement earlier this week.

National Police Week was founded in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy with the express goal of acknowledging and demonstrating appreciation for America’s law enforcement. As citizens are encouraged to show appreciation for police officers, law enforcement also reflects on what draws them to the profession in the first place.

Hamp knew he wanted to be a police officer from an early age after seeing the effect that a family member had when he was a police officer.

“My uncle retired from the Michigan State Police,” Hamp said via email about why he decided to become a police officer. “I admired his love for the job and the impact he had on so many lives.”

Smith was initially drawn to law enforcement from his time in college and getting to see the variety that came from the job.

Smith was sworn in as sheriff last year after previously serving as undersheriff to Steve Kieliszewski. Smith started work with the Alpena County Sheriff’s Office in 2007 and worked with the Alcona County Sheriff’s Office before that.

“Every day would always be different,” Smith said in an interview about his experiences as a police officer.

On top of celebrating law enforcement, National Police Week also provides an opportunity to pay respects to officers who have fallen in the line of duty. May 15 was Peace Keeper Memorial Day and it saw officers pay their respect to colleagues who have died in the line of duty.

“This week local officers paid their respects to officers with local ties who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities,” Hamp said. “Their lives will never be forgotten.”

When reflecting on being police officers in Alpena, both Hamp and Smith expressed gratitude for the community’s respect for police officers and the part they play in keeping the community safe.

“Locally, I’m thankful to police in a community that supports the police,” Hamp said. “We have some incredible police officers who make daily sacrifices to keep our communities safe and an inviting place to live.”