National Police Week 2020
2020 NATIONAL POLICE WEEK MAY 10 TO MAY 16
Since 1962, when May 15 was designated at Peace Officers' Memorial Day, National Police Week has been the week surrounding that day. Each year across this country, Law Enforcement Officers, along with their family and friends, and citizens in communities large and small, gather to remember and honor those men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities.
Last year in the United States, 146 officers died in the line of duty, and so far this year in 2020, 61 have given their lives for their communities. Here at the Kennett Square Police Department, we continue to remember and honor William Davis and Richard Posey who gave their lives in service of Kennett Square on November 15, 1972.
We are now finding ourselves staying home, social distancing, wearing masks, working from home, and homeschooling our kids. With sporting events, proms, graduations, and life events such as weddings and funerals being done differently and being postponed or cancelled, we are finding ways to honor our fallen law enforcement officers during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Unfortunately, vigils and memorial services that are typically well attended have been scaled back or cancelled this year. Please join us in remembering the fallen officers during this 2020 National Police Week.
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.
Source: https://www.policeweek.org/
