United States Attorney David C. Joseph Recognizes National Police Week May 10-16, 2020

SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE, La. – In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph salutes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Sunday, May 10 through Saturday, May 16, 2020.  

“Police Week is a time to recognize our fallen law enforcement officers across the United States,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph. “In tumultuous times such as these, the importance that our men and women in blue play in keeping our society free and safe cannot be overstated. Let’s all look for an opportunity this week to thank a police officer for his or her sacrifices and to remember those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.”

In 1962, President 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 every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.

Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities they swore to serve.

• Based on data collected and analyzed by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 89 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2019, including an officer here in the Western District of Louisiana - Shreveport Police Department Officer Chateri’ Payne, who was shot multiple times on January 9, 2019, as she was preparing to go on shift.

Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing most of the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2019.

The first officer fatality this year from the state of Louisiana involved an officer in the Western District of Louisiana who died in an automobile crash while on duty. DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sheriff Donna Richardson-Below died on February 12, 2020.  

The names of the fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial will be read on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, during a Virtual Candlelight Vigil. Because public events have been suspended as a result of COVID-19, the vigil will be livestreamed to the public at 7:00 pm (CDT). The online event can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF.

• Officer Payne’s name will be read during the virtual candlelight vigil and can be located on the National Law Enforcement Memorial at 59-E: 31.

To learn more about National Police Week, please visit: www.policeweek.org.

To register for the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit: www.nleomf.org.

Department of Justice public service announcement: Supporting Law Enforcement During Police Week 2020 - https://youtu.be/3bHlVOi3NJI.

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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.