Communities across the United States will come together during National Police Week May 15-21, 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.
During National Police Week, members of the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office will participate in the annual Law Enforcement United Memorial Ride, National Police Challenge 50k Relay Race and the Law Ride.
These events raise money and awareness for Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), which provides resources and assistance to surviving families and affected co-workers; The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring America’s fallen law enforcement officers; HEROES, Inc., which assists the widows and children of fallen law enforcement officers and firefighters.
The 23rd Annual Candlelight Vigil on Friday, May 13 will include the formal dedication of 316 fallen officers whose names have been inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. The names represent 152 officers who were killed during 2010, plus 164 officers who died in previous years but whose stories of sacrifice had been lost to history until now.
National Police Week is a collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to honoring America’s law enforcement community. Principal organizers are the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, COPS, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary.
National Police Week was established in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy and a joint resolution of Congress.
For more information about National Police Week or a schedule of events, please visit www.nleomf.org/programs/policeweek/