CHARLOTTE, N.C. - In observance of National Police Week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement and pays tribute to the officers who have fallen in the line of duty.
In 1962, President John F. 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 falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
“During National Police Week, we honor and remember the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty," said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King. “We remember their bravery, their service, and their willingness to put themselves at harm’s way to protect the lives of others. We also pledge our support to our federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement officers for their dedication and for serving our communities with honor, dignity, and excellence."
This year, the names of 556 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (NLEOMF) in Washington D.C., to include Master Trooper John Sumter Horton with the North Carolina Highway Patrol of Western North Carolina, who died on Jan. 3, 2022. An additional 332 officers added to the Memorial died earlier in history but their names and stories of sacrifice had not been previously documented. There are currently 23,785 names engraved on the Memorial, representing law enforcement officers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, territories, federal law enforcement, and military police agencies.
The names of the fallen officers added to the Memorial this year will be read on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at the 35th Annual Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 p.m. EST. The Candlelight Vigil will be livestreamed on the NLEOMF YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys