In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, while the week in which that day falls is designated as National Police Week. This week honors the U.S. law enforcement community and recognizes law enforcement and first responder personnel who have fallen in the line of duty. The main organizers of National Police Week are the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), the Fraternal Order of Police/Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary (FOP/FOPA), and Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.).
Throughout the week, these organizers and their partners will hold several commemorative events in the Washington, D.C. area, including:
- The 29th Annual Candlelight Vigil, sponsored by NLEOMF,
- The 36th Annual Peace Officers Memorial Day Service at the U.S. Capitol, sponsored by FOP/FOPA, and
- The National Police Survivors’ Conference, sponsored by C.O.P.S.
To view details about the above events, as well as check out the full schedule of events, visit the official National Police Week website or NLEOMF’s Police Week website.
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) also offers many resources to support the law enforcement community, including:
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program,
- BJA’s Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement Officers and Ensuring Officer Resilience and Survivability (VALOR) Initiative and VALOR Program, and
- OJP’s Bulletproof Vest Partnership/Body Armor Safety Initiative.
The National Criminal Justice Reference Service also has compiled a number of law enforcement resources.