Attorney General Garland honors nation's law enforcement during National Police Week

In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11, through Tuesday, May 17.

“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”

In 1962, President 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. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), over 67% of the law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 succumbed to COVID-19.

Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the FBI through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents.  Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58% from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks (defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender) were the cause of 24 deaths, significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting.  

The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8 p.m. Those who wish to view the vigil live online can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website at https://nleomf.org.