In 1962, President John F. Kennedy designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which that day falls as National Police Week. Since 1982, a memorial service has been held in Washington D.C. during Police Week to honor fallen law enforcement officers. When it began, it was a small gathering of about 120 people, but in the decades since has grown exponentially; now between 20-40,000 law enforcement officers and supporters gather in the nation's capital for this event each year.
For the last 12 years, the Officer Down Memorial Page has hosted the National Police Week 5K on the first Saturday of Police Week. This year's event, which includes over 2700 runners and walkers in D.C. and virtual runners around the world, will take place on May 12th.
Other important Police Week events include the Memorial Service hosted by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, the Candlelight Vigil hosted by NLEOMF, the Road to Hope bike ride hosted by Law Enforcement United, and the National Survivors Conference and associated seminars and events hosted by Concerns of Police Survivors throughout the week.
More Police Week events can be found here.
Our primary mission at ODMP is to honor the lives of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty, and Police Week is an annual event that reminds us why this mission is so vital. It is a privilege to work each day to honor the memories of the fallen.
We hope you'll take a moment during Police Week, wherever you are, to remember those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.