FORT SMITH— In honor of National Police Week, Acting U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Sunday, May 9, through Saturday, May 15.
“This week is a time to honor our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said. “I am constantly inspired by the extraordinary courage and dedication with which members of law enforcement act each day, putting their lives on the line to make our communities safer. To members of law enforcement and your families: We know that not a single day, nor a single week, is enough to recognize your service and sacrifice. On behalf of the entire Department of Justice, you have our unwavering support and eternal gratitude.
“We are very privileged in Western Arkansas to work with some of the best law enforcement officers in the United States. Our law enforcement partners in federal, state, and local offices across Western Arkansas work very hard every day to make our communities safer. They deserve our thanks and our deepest appreciation for the sacrifices they make and the dangers they face on our behalf.”
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 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 highlighted law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities that they have sworn to serve, Fowlkes said in a statement.
During the Roll Call of Heroes, a ceremony coordinated by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), more than 300 officers will be honored. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund, of the law enforcement officers who died nationwide in the line of duty in 2020, nearly 60% succumbed to COVID-19.
Additionally, according to statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 46 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts and 47 died in accidents in 2020. LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website.
The names of the 394 fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Thursday, May 13, during a Virtual Candlelight Vigil, which will be live streamed to the public at 8 p.m. EDT. The Police Week in-person public events, originally scheduled for May, have been rescheduled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns to Oct. 13-17. An in-person Candlelight Vigil event is scheduled for Oct. 14.
You can visit www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF to view the Virtual Candlelight Vigil on May 13. Visit www.fop.net for FOP’s Roll Call of Heroes.
