WHEELING – U.S. Attorney Bill Powell recognized 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 President Kennedy 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.
“We honor all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Our law enforcement officers put themselves at risk every day—for the rest of us. We honor them and their families this week and thank them for all of their sacrifices,” said Powell.
As a part of honoring law enforcement during this important week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will attend the Wheeling Police Department’s Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15 at Wheeling’s Heritage Port.
According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2018. None of those deaths occurred in the Northern District of West Virginia.
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 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2019.
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.
