National Police Week 2024
This week marks National Police Week, in honor of the peace officers who have fallen in the line of duty over the past year. Governor Walz has ordered flags in Minnesota to be flown at half-staff in recognition of the week.
“In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.”
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC will hold several events throughout the week, adding the names of those officers who died in the line of duty this past year to the memorial wall.
In Minnesota, our own Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Monument located near the State Capitol in St. Paul will be the site of a 24-hour honor guard staffed by active-duty Minnesota law enforcement officers. This honor guard will be in place from 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, and conclude with a remembrance ceremony at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. A video of the event in 2023 can be viewed here.
Also in the metro area, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the Minneapolis Police Department will hold their annual remembrance ceremony for law enforcement officers in Hennepin County who have died in the line of duty. That ceremony will be held at 12:00 pm on Friday, May 17, in front of City Hall in downtown Minneapolis. A video of the event in 2023 can be viewed here.
Given the sacrifices of our law enforcement officers and the profession’s continued struggle following the civil unrest of 2020, it has never been more important to show our support. Please consider attending a ceremony this week near you.
Visit the websites of the National and Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Associations (LEMA) for more information — including opportunities to financial support the work of these important organizations. Donations to Minnesota’s LEMA go towards funding the arrangements and funerals of our fallen officers.