President Barack Obama, center, and Vice President Joe Biden, right center, pose for a group photograph in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 12, 2011, during a ceremony honoring the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) TOPS COPS . Obama has his arm around Oklahoma City Police Dept. Officer Katie Lawson, left center. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama delivered a simple message to the nation's top police officers: "Thank you."
At a White House ceremony Thursday, Obama praised the winners of a national police association award for courage and heroism that ranged from carrying out dangerous drug stings to investigating last year's attempted bombing of New York's Times Square.
Obama also mentioned his visit to ground zero last week and his meeting with officers who were first to respond to the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in lower Manhattan.
Obama said he appreciates the officers' service and added that his administration is committed to making sure they have what they need to do their jobs.
The officers were invited to the Rose Garden as part of the National Association of Police Organizations' annual awards.
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