U.S. Attorney Recognizes Police Week

U.S. Attorney Duane (DAK) Kees recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers on the occasion of National Police Week, which is being observed Sunday, May 12 to Saturday, May 18, 2019.

In October 1962, Congress enacted a joint resolution, which the President signed, declaring May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. The resolution also created National Police Week as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice.

U.S. Attorney Kees stated, “The Western District of Arkansas is blessed to have the finest law enforcement men and women serving at all levels. As the U.S. Attorney, it is a sincere honor to celebrate the achievements, dedication and sacrifices of these brave men and women. We should never forget that each day when they go to work, they put their lives on the line for us.  They do it, not for the pay and not for the applause, but out of service for their fellow man.  I pray we never take for granted all that they do and that they know how much they are truly appreciated.”

According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2018.

Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018 https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2018/ released this week by the FBI.

The names of all 106 fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 31^st   Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2019. No tickets are required and everyone is welcome. For additional information please call 202-737-3400.

The Candlelight Vigil is one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2019.               

For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.