Full Notification

Again this year, communities across the United States will come together during National Police Week, May 13-19, to honor and remember those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends and fellow officers they left behind.

This year, the names of 360 officers killed in the line of duty are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. These 360 officers include 129 officers who were killed during 2017, plus 231 officers who died in previous years but whose stories of sacrifice had been lost to history until now.

The names of all 360 fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated during the 30th Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2018 to be held on the National Mall between 4th and 7th streets. So that people across the country can experience this unique and powerful ceremony, the vigil will be webcast live over the Internet beginning at 8 PM (EDT) on May 13th. To register for this free online event, visit www.LawMemorial.org/webcast.

The more than 400 fallen law enforcement officers from Indiana will be remembered during Police Week services, including five (5) officers from the Hamilton County law enforcement community. Nationwide there are more than 900,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Annually, there are 58,627 assaults against law enforcement officers, resulting in approximately 16,677 injuries. Since the first recorded death in 1791, more than 20,000 law enforcement officers in the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice and been killed in the line of duty.

In tribute to American law enforcement officers and at the request of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Public Law 103-322 designates May 15th National Peace Officers Memorial Day, which is one of only two days each year during which government agencies, businesses and residents are to fly their U.S. flags at half staff.

For more information about National Police Week, please visit www.LawMemorial.org/policeweek.