National Police Week offers honor, remembrance, and peer support, while allowing law enforcement, survivors, and citizens to gather and pay homage to those who gave their lives in the line of duty.
History
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The Memorial Service began in 1982 as a gathering in Senate Park of approximately 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement. Decades later, the event, more commonly known as National Police Week, has grown to a series of events which attracts thousands of survivors and law enforcement officers to our Nation’s Capital each year.
The National Peace Officers Memorial Service, which is sponsored by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, is one in a series of events which includes the Candlelight Vigil, which is sponsored by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) and seminars sponsored by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)
National Police Week draws in between 25,000 to 40,000 attendees. The attendees come from departments throughout the United States as well as from agencies throughout the world. This provides a unique opportunity to meet others who work in law enforcement. In that spirit, the Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge #1 sponsors receptions each afternoon and evening during Police Week. These events are open to all law enforcement personnel and are an experience unlike any other.
Police Week Events
Peace Officers Memorial Day & Police Week in the State of Minnesota has been proclaimed by Governor Tim Walz with the order that all United States flags and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset on Monday, May 13, 2024, in honor of Peace Officers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty.
Law Enforcement Memorial Wreath Laying
In honor of Law Enforcement Memorial Day, MN LEMA invites all to the Peace Officer Memorial in St Paul to honor fallen officers beginning the evening of May 14.
Standing Guard at the Memorial will begin at 6pm on May 14 for 24 hours leading into a remembrance ceremony at 7 p.m. on May 15. Wreath laying ceremonies will begin at 6:30 p.m. on May 14, with the final wreath being laid at 6:30 p.m. on the 15. Wreaths are $90 and are available in while, blue, red or red white & blue. One will choose one’s wreath color and the ribbon script as part of the sign-up process. Only list one officer per wreath, the florist is limited on the number of characters that can be included on the ribbon.
LEMA asks that all who will participate in a wreath laying ceremony arrive at the Memorial no later then 30 mins prior to the scheduled ceremony start time. Check in at the tent when you arrive, there you will be introduced to an Honor Guard member who will provide you an overview of the ceremony.
Memorial Day Service
Peace officers, family members, survivors, and supporters of peace officers are invited to the Minnesota Peace Officer’s Memorial for the annual ceremony to remember and honor all officers who have died in the Line of Duty in Minnesota, including the addition of three newly found officers whose stories of sacrifice were discovered in 2023.
