malini wilkes has more from washington. >> reporter: a tradition going back nearly 50 years.w enforcement officers from all over the country gather in washington for police week honoring colleagues who died in the line of duty. today, president obama spoke at a memorial service at the capital, thanking officers and their families for their sacrifices. >> you don't know what the next dispatch will bring. all you know is your duty to keep us safe, to keep our community safe and keep america safe. a duty you fulfill every day. >> it just reminds me that freedom requires sacrifice that the pprotector will never know. >> reporter: many officers told us they had to do more with less in the recession. earlier today, president obama tried to assure police they would have the resources they need to do their job and said $3.5 billion in stimulus funds went to support local law enforcement, helping to preserve 4700 jobs. officers say when it comes to fighting crime, they can always use more equipment and manpower. >> hiring freezes are coming down. there are academies are being cut back

and malini wilks who is joining me now live from the washington news room to tell us more.jamie, a tradition going back almost 50 years. law enforcement gathering in washington for police week in may, to remember those who lost their lives in the line of duty. this morning, president obama spoke at a memorial service at the capitol thanking officers and their families for their sacrifices. >> such a sacrifice, such an honor roll is what makes it possible for us to go on about our lives. to pursue our dreams. >> many officers told us they've had to do more with less during the recession, yesterday, president obama tried to assure police they will have the resources they need to do their jobs. he said 3.5 billion dollars in stimulus funds have gone toward supporting local law enforcement and 4700 jobs and progress toward a goal of making new police on the street. automotives say when it comes to fighting crime, they can always use more manpower and equipment. >> always, we think that on a local level. we're always willing to step any kind of assistance that we can. especially

malini wilkes has more. >> it's a tradition going back nearly 50 years. law enforcement officers from all over the country gathering in washington for police week honoring colleagues who died in the line of duty. today president obama spoke at a memorial service at the capitol, thanking officers and their families for their sacrifices. >> you don't know what the next dispatch will bring. all you know is your duty to keep us safe, to keep our community safe, to keep america safe. it is a duty you fulfill every single day. >> it just reminds me that freedom requires sacrifice that the protecter will never know. >> reporter: many officers told us they had to do more with less during the recession. earlier this week, president obama tried to assure police they will have the resources they need to do their jobs. he said $3.5 billion in stimulus funds have gone towards supporting local law enforcement, helping to preserve 4700 jobs. officers say when it comes to fighting crime, they can always use more equipment and manpower. >> hiring freezes are coming down.

. >> malini wilkes is live in washington with the heated race, it's crazy in pennsylvania, malini. >>d the candidates are campaigning for every vote. congressman joe cess tack against arlen specter. he reminds voters of specter's each every chance he gets. >> there's no way we're going to trust a career politician that helped us get us into the mess after 30 years down there and then saying i'm going to switch. >> it's been an independent record and a record where i evaluate what is good for the people of my state and nation, and vote accordingly. >> specter is running ads showing that he has the support of president obama, but sestak countered showing the senator with former probable. specter attacked sestac from the navy and he designed to release his military records and hitting that he'll-- elaien elena-- the polls have sestak leading and he's a tough complainer, it's not over yet. the winner is likely to face republican pat toomey, a strong challenge from toomey that had specter switching parties in the first place, back to you. >> thanks. >> interesting. >> call it right now. >>