PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY

Every May 15th Peace Officers Memorial Day pays tribute to local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice or been injured in the line of duty. The observance takes place during Police Week.

#PeaceOfficersMemorialDay

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, more than 800,000 law enforcement officers serve in the United States today. Each year, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial adds new names to the wall. The average is 163 deaths per year. Fallen law enforcement officers represent all levels of law enforcement, including local, state, federal, tribal, and military law enforcement. They are family members, husbands, wives, parents, sons, and daughters.

The day honors fallen LEO across the nation and offers support to their surviving family members and officers.

HOW TO OBSERVE PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY

Many organizations, government agencies, and private citizens fly flags at half-staff in memory of those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. These organizations conduct services honoring the fallen across the country, including Washington, D.C. Attend a memorial near you. Support families of fallen and injured law enforcement officers.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., features the names of more than 22,000 law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty. Use #PeaceOfficersMemorialDay to post on social media.

PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY HISTORY

On October 1, 1961, Congress asked President John F. Kennedy to designate May 15th as a day to honor peace officers. In 1962, President Kennedy issued the declaration for Peace Officers Memorial Day to be observed on May 15th and the week of May 15th to be recognized as National Police Week. In 1994, Bill Clinton made an amendment through Public Law 103-322 that directed the United States flag to be flown at half-staff on May 15th in honor of the day.