National Police Week: Watch 2023 Peace Officers’ Memorial Service
May 15, 2023
The 42nd annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service in Washington, D.C., honors the lives of the police and law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2022.
Police and law enforcement officers who have lost their lives will be honored Monday at the 42nd annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service in Washington, D.C.
The service, sponsored by the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police and the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary, is part of National Police Week, and it will be held on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. The event gins at noon Eastern Time, and you can watch the livestream above.
Activities for National Police Week began Thursday with the National Police K-9 Memorial Service at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. On Friday, the arrival ceremony was held for the Police Unity Tour.
National Police Week's history goes back to 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. The memorial service began in 1982 and its growth over the decades is bittersweet; while the outpouring of support is inspiring, it's still heartbreaking to see the number of fallen officers grow.
Listen to the latest episode of OFFICER Magazine's Officer Roll Call podcast to hear more about National Police Week and the emotional impact it has on those who attend.
