FHP Lt. Tommy Moore and Lt. Pat Santangelo with officers
from the California Highway Patrol and the Arkansas State Police.

Florida Highway Patrol's Lt. Tommy Moore and Lt. Pat Santangelo volunteered to assist Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) during National Police Memorial Week in Washington, DC May 13-16, 2006. The two lieutenants accompanied survivors to the annual candlelight vigil at the National Police Memorial on Saturday night to hear guest speaker U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. The names of police officers who were killed in the line of duty in 2005 were read and added to the wall of the memorial.

President Bush addresses the survivors.

On Sunday, Lieutenants Moore and Santangelo escorted survivors on the annual Troopers Tour of the Capitol, sponsored by the National Troopers Coalition. On Monday the two lieutenants assisted COPS by helping to coordinate the transportation of the 2005 survivors to the U.S. Capitol west lawn for the National Peace Officers Memorial Day Service. President George W. Bush addressed the survivors in a speech and then personally visited and shook hands with all the families in attendance.

A public law signed by President John F. Kennedy proclaimed that May 15 would be National Police Memorial Day. Later, President Bill Clinton signed a law that directs flags to be displayed at half-mast on all government buildings on May 15. The Florida Highway Patrol Command Officers Association is a Silver Sponsor of COPS. The American Association of State Troopers generously sponsored a breakfast for surviving families. The two associations also assisted Lieutenants Moore and Santangelo with travel expenses for the trip to Washington.