The Erie region's top federal prosecutor on Thursday recognized the efforts of three Erie police officers and a city staffer in driving programs geared toward strengthening the relationship between police officers and the community they serve. Stephen R. Kaufman, the acting U.S. attorney for the western district of Pennsylvania, visited Erie on Thursday morning to present certificates of commendation to the leaders of the city's Police Athletic League, Community Outreach Program and Strengthening Police and Community Partnerships Council. Kaufman, whose visit to Erie was part of a weeklong trip across the district in honor of National Police Week, told the gathering of mostly law enforcement officers that it's not easy to be a police officer in America "given current events."