In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney of the Northern District of Indiana Thomas L. Kirsch II will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed May 10 through Saturday.
“There is no more noble profession than serving as a police officer,” Attorney General William Barr said. “The men and women who protect our communities each day have not just devoted their lives to public service, they’ve taken an oat to give their lives in order to ensure our safety. And they do so not only in the face of hostility from those who reject our nation’s commitment to the rule of law, but also in the face of evolving adversity, such as an unprecedented global health pandemic.”
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities they swore to serve, according to Kirsch.
Based on data collected and analyzed by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 89 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2019.
The names of the fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial will be read on Wednesday during a virtual annual candlelight vigil, that will be livestreamed to the public at 8 p.m. at www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF.com.
