National Police Week 2025: What's on Tap During the Observance
Source Officer.com News
This week marks National Police Week, and law enforcement officers who have lost their lives will be honored Tuesday at the Annual Candlelight Vigil
The vigil, which includes the reading of the names of fallen of law enforcement officers by high-ranking government officials and others, will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. on the National Mall. You can stream the ceremony on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's YouTube, Facebook and X feeds. Go to nleomf.org for more information.
Activities for National Police Week began with Sunday's National Police K-9 Memorial Service at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. On Saturday, the Anne Arundel, Maryland, Police Department's hockey team faced the Pittsburgh Icemen in a match to benefit the memorial fund.
Here are the other activities on tap this week:
Monday
Police Unity Tour Ride-In and Ceremony: Bikers participating in the tour will start arriving at 2 p.m. at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The ride pays tribute to fallen officers each year.
Wednesday
31st Annual Pipeband Memorial March:. The march—which began in 1995 and featires pipebands, Emerald Societies, honor guards, antique police cruisers and motorcycles—starts at 6 p.m. from Capitol Hill at New Jersey Avenue and F street NW, proceeding on E street to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on the south side of E Street. It will be followed by a 7 p.m. memorial service that will include speakers, pipe bands and wreath layings.
DC United's First Responder Night: The DC United soccer team will be holding a special night for police and first responders during National Police Week. Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. game against the New York FC will be 30% off for police officers and other first responders, with $5 of every ticket going to the memorial fund.
Thursday
Stand Watch for the Fallen: From noon to midnight at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Honor guards will stand watch for 10-minute intervals to remember fallen law enforcement officers.
Go to the National Police Week website for more information about what's going on.
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.
Check back at officer.com this week for photos from the week.
