This year between May 14th and May 20th we observed National Police Week, a collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to honoring America’s law enforcement community including the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Fraternal Order of Police/Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary and Concerns of Police Survivors.
As in previous years, thousands of men and women in uniform as well as their families and the families of those who were killed in the line of duty traveled to Washington, D.C. to visit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and pay their respects. What I found amazing was that while many people traveled to D.C. via airplane or car, others came by motorcycle, bicycle and by foot, including those who participated in the LawRide, the Police Unity Tour and the Law Enforcement Memorial Run from Philadelphia to D.C.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions led the lighting of candles and reading of fallen officers’ names during the 29th annual Candlelight Vigil, held on the National Mall, where an estimated 30,000 people were in attendance. “To all those serving here, I have a simple message to each of you: We have your back and you have our thanks,” Sessions said to the crowd. In addition to the 143 officers who died in 2016, the names of 251 officers, who died in prior years, were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. While many law enforcement officers traveled to our nation’s capital to recognize National Police Week, others gave recognition at home.
Some law enforcement managers recognized National Police Week in other ways: by taking their message to the public. I read a dozen local “Letters to the Editor” written by sheriffs, sergeants, and chiefs and published in their hometown newspapers. In the “Letters to the Editor” column of the Grand Rapids Herald-Review, Sgt. Bob Stein of the Grand Rapids (MN) Police Department wrote, “National Police Week is a good time to pause and remember the incredibly selfless men and women heading out on patrol, willing to place themselves in harm’s way, and those who came before them who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Did you or members of your agency partake in honoring National Police Week? Please share your photos, video and stories with us and fellow officers at the “Officer Down News & Memorials” thread on the Officer.com Forums.
Stay safe.
Adrienne
The staff at Southcomm Law Enforcement Media extends our condolences to the families, friends, and agencies who lost a loved one to a line of duty death.
