Police Week 2015

Thank you to all our friends and supporters for another wonderful Police Week! This year, we honored the addition of 273 American Law Enforcement heroes to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

Events began on Saturday, May 9 with the National Police Week 5K and the 24th Annual Correctional Officers Wreath Laying Ceremony.

The National Police Week 5K was hosted by the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) and benefited their programs as well as Concerns of Police Survivors. The 5K began and ended at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.



During the Correctional Officers Wreath Laying Ceremony, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Corrections Chiefs Committee gathered at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to honor correctional officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.



The 20th Annual Law Ride rode into town on Sunday, May 10. Hundreds of motorcyclists cruised from RFK Stadium past the U.S. Capitol, down Pennsylvania Avenue, and up 5th Street on their way to the Memorial.



On Monday, May 11, The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of Washington, DC, the Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge #1, and the DC Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors hosted the 36th Annual Washington Area Police Memorial Service at MPD’s Headquarters in downtown DC with Brianne Carter of ABC/WILA-TV, as mistress of ceremonies.



On Tuesday, May 12 when the 19th Annual Police Unity Tour arrived at the Memorial. It was a sight to see when 1,900 riders made their way through the Memorial's Pathways of Remembrance. After a brief ceremony, the Police Unity Tour presented the Memorial Fund's Chairman & CEO Craig Floyd with a check for $1,997,000, their biggest donation yet to the Memorial Fund!



Wednesday, May 13 marked the biggest and most important day during Police Week, the night of the 27th Annual Candlelight Vigil. Tens of thousands gathered at the Memorial to raise their candles high in honor of the 20,538 officers on the Memorial.





Police Week events didn't after the Candlelight Vigil. On Thursday, May 14, the 21st Annual Emerald Society and Pipeband March and Service made their way to the Memorial. During the event, the Emerald Society, an organization of American police officers or fire fighters of Irish heritage, remembered all law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, in particular officers of Gaelic descent. Emerald Societies from all over the US participated in the march.



Police Week events also included the 34th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Day Services at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, May 15. After the ceremony, the Fraternal Order of Police and Fraternal Order of Police Auxillary brought their wreath to the Memorial, where Honor Guard teams from all over the U.S. stood watch over it until midnight.



Police Week is a very special time for us here at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, and we are proud to be able to host the various events that happen during the week. Thank you again to all of those who participated in Police Week events, both in person and online through watching the live stream of the Candlelight Vigil on Officer.com and participating in our United By Light virtual candle campaign.