WASHINGTON, DC (July 8, 2021) — The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum announced today that the Museum will reopen to the public and will feature an exhibition honoring the service of law enforcement in the aftermath of 9/11. Doors will open to the public Friday, August 27, at 10:00 a.m.
Titled “Post-9/11: The Evolution of American Law Enforcement,” the exhibition will be in the DuPont Gallery of the National Law Enforcement Museum and will examine the effects that the terror strikes have had on police forces and agencies in the fight to keep the United States safe over the last two decades. The 2,000 square-foot exhibit will house artifacts and display iconic images from all three crash sites, including a steal beam from the World Trade Center, a concrete block from the Pentagon, and fragments of Flight 93. The exhibition is expected to remain at the museum through July 31, 2022.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea was named Honorary Chair of the 9/11 Exhibition and will play a critical role in connecting members of the law enforcement community to the exhibition in order to expand awareness of its educational value and to honor those who served and continue to serve. Shea was appointed the 44th police commissioner of the City of New York by Mayor Bill de Blasio in December 2019. He previously served as the Chief of Detectives, the Chief of Crime Control Strategies, and the Deputy Commissioner of Operations. As Chair, Shea will deliver the keynote address at the exhibition’s opening reception, providing further insight into the accomplishments of NYPD and law enforcement around the country following the attacks of 9/11.
“What the general public knows is that, due to attacks on 9/11 and since then, law enforcement officers have sacrificed their lives and supported the survivors of fallen officers,” said Commissioner Shea, “but the story not everyone knows is how they have worked tirelessly to prevent further attacks on this country. This exhibition tells that story for the first time, 20 years later. It is my privilege to serve as the honorary chair to bring the law enforcement community together to remember our sacrifices and honor of our commitment to protect the citizens of the United States.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum had to host events and programs virtually. The opening of the “Post-9/11: The Evolution of American Law Enforcement” exhibit will provide guests an exciting opportunity to again visit the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum campus and engage in the story of law enforcement and honor those who serve and have given their lives in the line of duty.
“We are so grateful to open our doors again to the public and continue to share the important story of law enforcement in America, and to honor our fallen heroes,” said Marcia Ferranto, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “9/11 was life-changing for all of us, but exponentially more so for members of law enforcement. This exhibition will not only honor those who gave their all that fateful day, but it will also show how law enforcement has met the challenge of a post-9/11 world, making incredible strides to protect us from harm.”
The National Law Enforcement Museum is located at 444 E Street, NW in Washington, DC. For information about museum events or the reopening of the museum visit: https://lawenforcementmuseum.org/
About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The Memorial Fund maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., which honors the names of all of the 22,611 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The National Law Enforcement Museum at the Motorola Solutions Foundation Building is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come.
