I was honored to attend a beautiful, emotional and inspiring dedication ceremony for the Officer Amy Caprio Unity Playground at Gunpowder Elementary School this weekend. I did not see a dragonfly, but I still feel sure Officer Caprio was looking down with pride.

Officer Amy Caprio lost her life in the line of duty in May 2018 while intervening to stop a crime spree and keep her community safe. There have been many projects honoring Officer Caprio in the years since, but this Unity Playground embodies her core values of spreading kindness and compassion, and will allow us to instill those values in a new generation of upstanding citizens.

It was wonderful to see the number of folks who honored Officer Caprio. The grief of her loss is still heavy, but we can also celebrate the joy of her life, the selflessness of her service and the beauty of her legacy. The children who play on the Unity Playground for years to come will keep Officer Caprio’s memory alive in their smiles and laughter. 

Special thanks to Kirsten Roller, who was the primary organizer of the playground project and who hosted the ceremony with grace and good spirits despite the sometimes overwhelming emotion. I remember many meetings with Kirsten, her husband Scott and others, both in my district office and down in Annapolis as we fought for state funding to support this project. I was honored to take part in a bull roast fundraiser which they organized last year, and I was amazed at the generosity of local businesses and community members who donated their time, skill and money, whatever they could to make this Unity Playground happen.

I must also thank Senator Kathy Klausmeier, my fellow Delegates Carl Jackson and Joe Boteler, as well as Councilman David Marks. It is a privilege to be able to work together with these fine public servants, and I was so proud to see the results of our efforts. Thanks to our work, we secured $150,000 from the state through a bond bill initiative, which I was honored to sponsor along with Senator Klausmeier, with the support of Delegates Jackson and Boteler. I was especially humbled to receive a beautiful plaque, which I will treasure always as a reminder to #BeAmy in my own service.

Lastly, I will note that Officer Caprio’s story underscores the importance of law enforcement officers in keeping our children, our families and our neighborhoods safe. There is still a deep respect and support for this work in our community. To all the law enforcement reading this, to those who joined us this weekend, to those who served alongside Officer Caprio and to each and every one out there today keeping the peace, thank you. You honor Officer Caprio through your service, and you have our blessing.