Detroit Red Wings Honor Michigan’s Recently Fallen Officers

Deep in the tunnels of Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, a group of law enforcement officers gathered in preparation for their ceremonial tasks. They practiced their moves and timing as thousands of people sat in their seats, watching players from the Detroit Red Wings and Arizona Coyotes warm up. The occasional errant puck would pound on the glass that separated the officers from the ice, causing everyone to jump and then laugh.

These officers, as well as hundreds more in the stands, came to The Joe on Thursday, December 3, to honor the service and sacrifice of Michigan’s men and women in law enforcement with the 5th Annual Law Enforcement Night. Three in particular were honored: First Lieutenant Arthur Green, of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Sergeant Joseph Abdella, of the Detroit (MI) Police Department; and Trooper Chad Wolf, of the Michigan State Police—officers who died in the line of duty this year. An honor guard from the Midland (MI) Police Department followed three officers who represented the departments who had lost an officer this year.

The family of Sergeant Abdella, his wife and their two daughters, stood back from the ice and watched as Karen Newman, who was escorted by Officer Stephen Schneider of the Southfield (MI) Police Department, sang the National Anthem. Sergeant Abdella suffered a heart attack on August 14 while working the Mounted Unit in Detroit. Earlier in the evening, the daughters had received a signed hockey stick and puck, courtesy of a raffle held by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the generosity of Chris Powell, an investigator at Wayne State University. Powell had been named the winner of the hockey puck, signed by a player of the Red Wings, but immediately gave it to Abdella’s daughters, who are fans of the team. Sergeant Abdella was 49 years old.

Trooper Chad Wolf’s family was allowed to sit in the penalty box during pre-game warm-ups. Trooper Wolf, 38, was killed on August 28 after his Michigan State Police motorcycle was struck by a vehicle towing a trailer. He had joined the force in 2008.

First Lieutenant Arthur Green, of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, was also honored at the hockey game. The conservation officer, 58, was killed on August 9 when the small plane he was piloting crashed after hitting a tree near the airport he was expected to land at. He had been on his way to a law enforcement training session.

Those who bought their tickets through the Law Enforcement Night event link were given a commemorative coin in honor of the annual event hosted by the Red Wings. In addition, the first 500 ticket purchasers were allowed onto the ice to take shots on nets after the game, which the hometown team won 5-1. Scores of adults and children waited patiently for this rare treat, to stand on the cold and slippery rink of a professional hockey team and score a goal.

To honor the special evening, coaches of both the Red Wings and Coyotes wore Memorial lapel pins during the game, and police vehicles lined the streets around the arena in downtown Detroit.

About 1,700 tickets were sold for the event, and a portion of proceeds will be donated to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s campaign to create the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC.

There are currently 20 officers from the Detroit (MI) Police Department whose names are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement officers Memorial. The earliest fallen officer from Michigan was Detective Sergeant Daniel J. Coughlin, who died in a shooting-related incident in 1923. Michigan State Police honors 22 officers on the Memorial walls, with the earliest fallen officer being Sergeant Harvey E. Bolen, who died following an injury while on motorcycle patrol, also in 1923. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources currently has only one name on the Memorial, Conservation Officer Edward Carl Starback, who died in a plane crash in 1957 that also killed his two sons.

The Memorial Fund is grateful for the generosity of the Detroit Red Wings for hosting Law Enforcement Night for five years, and for giving local law enforcement and their friends and family the opportunity to enjoy a great evening of hockey. Also, an added extra thanks to the Detroit Red Wings Group Sales and Security teams, ASIS Detroit Chapter, Southfield Police Department, and the Michigan Association of Chiefs Police.

“It’s a great way to raise awareness and funds for the Museum, but also to reflect on the positive work officers do to serve and protect in Michigan and across the country,” said Craig W. Floyd, Chairman & CEO of the Memorial Fund.

Memorial staffers Brad Carlson, Senior Director of Major Gifts, and Jaclyn Barrientes, Communications and Digital Media Manager, were on hand to answer questions about the Memorial and plans for the Museum in Washington, DC. Carlson stressed the importance of building the museum to tell the story of law enforcement in this country, and asked that officers look into opportunities to help make it into a reality, including through donations.

Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to telling the story of American law enforcement and making it safer for those who serve. The Memorial Fund maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 20,538 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now working to create the National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of American law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational programming. For more information, visit www.LawMemorial.org.

262nd Session of FBI National Academy Hosts Ceremony at Memorial

The murder of Police Officer Randolph Holder of the New York Police Department the previous night made the Memorial Service for the 262nd Session of the FBI National Academy on Wednesday, October 21, a more somber experience for those in attendance.

Memorial Fund CEO and Chairman Craig W. Floyd spoke to the several academy members on the warm fall evening about the importance of law enforcement in our country. He addressed Officer Holder’s death by a “career criminal,” a man who had a long history of committing crimes. Officer Holder, like every officer, ran toward the danger.

Floyd said the country has forgotten about the unity with law enforcement that took over after the attacks on September 11, 2001. He recalled being taken down to Ground Zero in a patrol car soon after the World Trade Center towers came down, and being moved by the sight of the crowd  applauding the first responders as they made their way past.

Near the end of the ceremony, names of several fallen officers were read, and a wreath was placed at the center of the Memorial.

Witness to History: Boston Marathon Bombing

Seat by seat, the rows filled in the Burke Theater of the U.S. Navy Memorial Museum on Wednesday, October 7. Many came from across the East Coast to listen to three officials talk about the investigation and manhunt following one of the most recent terrorist attacks in our nation’s homeland. As part of the Witness to History series, the National Law Enforcement Museum provided the audience a chance to listen to first-hand accounts of what happened in the days following the Boston Marathon Bombing.

On April 15, 2013, Boston Marathon fans lined the streets of the region to cheer on the runners, an annual tradition for which the city is famous. No one would’ve suspected that this race would be any different than the ones before it. Unfortunately, two pressure cooker bombs near the finish line on Boylston Street set off a four-day chase for brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev through several Boston-area towns.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Carmen M. Ortiz was in her office in Downtown Boston when the blasts occurred. “The news of the explosions just spread like wildfire,” she said. Ortiz also referenced the how the media both helped and hurt the investigation, pointing out how the media reported the arrest of a suspect early on when it wasn’t case. But they also provided the public with the information to assist in tracking down the suspects, which led to the arrest of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Watertown, Massachusetts.

It was after midnight on April 19, 2013, four days after the bombing and shortly after MIT Police Officer Sean A. Collier was killed by the same suspects in Cambridge, when Watertown Sgt. John MacLellan and his team came upon the Tsarnaev brothers. A gunfight ensued where the officers came under fire from bullets and small bombs. “This is something you couldn’t train for in our department,” Sgt. McLellan recalled to the audience. “It was more like a war zone than a street fight.” Tamerlan Tsarnaev died in the battle from gunshot wounds and having been run over by his fleeing younger brother.

Later that day, a 911 call came in from a Watertown resident who noticed suspicious activity in his backyard. Former FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard DesLauriers described the situation. “A call came in from David Henneberry who, after noticing a weather wrap was loose on his boat, looked inside and saw Dzhokhar Tsarnaev alive and sleeping,” he said. He was later captured by police, bringing an end to a manhunt that captured the attention of the nation, and put the city of Boston on edge.

Each panelist shared how incredibly moved they were by Boston and Watertown residents who came together in the aftermath of the bombings and the display of strength and resilience of the victims and their families. Sgt. McLellan praised a family in Watertown, who allowed officers to use their bathroom during the search, and said the experience had brought the community together. DesLauriers said it was the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies working together that played a role in the capture of the suspect.

The Museum’s Witness to History program began in June 2011. Since the inaugural event, 11 more have been presented. Video recordings and photos from the events are availableto view on the Museum’s website.

One Righteous Man: Samuel Battle and the Shattering of the Color Line in New York

Purchase Book

Arthur Browne explores the desegregation of the New York Police Department through the extraordinary life of Samuel Battle in One Righteous Man: Samuel Battle and the Shattering of the Color Line in New York.

On June 28, 1911, Samuel Jesse Battle, badge number 782, became the first black policeman in the NYPD. On that day, Police Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo told him, “You will have some difficulties, but I know you will overcome them.” Thus began Battle’s four decadelong career. Along the way Battle pushed through the ranks of the NYPD, navigated the murky waters of Tammany Hall politics, and became a founding citizen of black Harlem. Battle also pushed for equality in all of the city’s civil services, including mentoring Wesley Williams, the first black fire fighter in the New York Fire Department.

Battle’s career was never easy. He faced discrimination and threats even before taking the civil service exam, and Battle’s first day at the Twenty-Eighth Precinct was no different. He was greeted with silence, disdain, and a cot in the precinct’s flag storage loft instead of the dormitory. Years later Battle would recount his feelings to Langston Hughes, his autobiographer for a time, about enduring such abuse.

Sometimes, lying on my cot on the top floor in the silence, I would wonder how it was that many of the patrolmen in my precinct who did not yet speak English well, had no such difficulties in getting on the police force as I, a Negro American, had experienced…My name had been passed over repeatedly. All sorts of discouragements had been placed in my path. And now, after a long wait and a lot of stalling, I had finally been given a trial appointment to their ranks and these men would not speak to me. Native-born and foreign-born whites on the police force all united in looking past me as though I were not a human being. In the loft in the dark, with the Stars and Stripes, I wondered! Why?

One Righteous Man: Samuel Battle and the Shattering of the Color Line in New York is available in the Memorial Fund Gift Shop.

VALOR Officer Safety Conference on September 17-18

On September 17-18, the VALOR Initiative will host an officer safety conference in Hurst, TX, providing officers with the opportunity to learn about varied topics including emerging threats and challenges, casualty care and rescue tactics, and pre-incident indicators of a potential assault. You can view the full, two-day agenda here.

Along with a wide array of law enforcement experts and researchers, Memorial Fund CEO Craig W. Floyd and Nick Breul, Director of Officer Safety and Wellness Initiative, will both be in attendance lending their expertise on the threats facing our officers. Additionally, there will be presentations by representatives from Dallas, who were recipients of our Destination Zero National Officer Safety and Officer Wellness Award in the category of officer safety for their trauma kits, and Yolo County, CA S.O who won in the traffic safety category for reducing at fault vehicle crashes.

Since the inception of the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) VALOR Initiative in 2010, a total of 153 VALOR officer safety training sessions have been conducted, impacting over 19,000 law enforcement officers. The training continues to be positively received by officers across the country.

There is no registration fee for this conference, but space is limited. Enrollment is reserved for currently sworn law enforcement personnel. Federal registrants will be placed on a wait list pending availability. Register today.

IHIA Symposium Lays Wreath at Memorial

Attendees of the 2015 International Homicide Investigators Association symposium in Washington, DC, gathered at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on the evening of Tuesday, August 18, to lay a wreath in honor of the more than 20,000 law enforcement officers whose names are on the Memorial walls.

Memorial Fund Chairman and CEO Craig Floyd welcomed the guests and spoke of the annual candlelight vigil ceremony held at the Memorial during National Police Week in May, a tradition since the Memorial was dedicated in 1991. He also shared a story about the special guest and keynote speaker for the second candlelight vigil in 1992, radio host Paul Harvey.

“I picked him up that day at the airport and I brought him to the Memorial,” Floyd started, “and I walked along the west wall behind me until I got to panel 60W, Line 18. And as we were walking, he became impatient, and he said, ‘Craig, where is his name?’ His father, Harry Aurandt, had been shot and killed in December of 1921, when Paul Harvey was three years old. Paul Harvey’s father’s name is proudly inscribed on these Memorial walls, along with more than 20,000 others.

“And when I finally pointed to his name on that wall, Paul Harvey, a world-renowned gentleman who, at that time, was in his seventies, got down on his knees. He touched his father’s name and began sobbing. It touched him to see his nation had not forgotten his father after all these years, that his story would continue to be told at these Memorial grounds.”

Minnesota Twins Host Inaugural Law Enforcement Night

On Saturday, August 15, on a very hot and humid night in the Twin Cities, the Minnesota Twins took on the Cleveland Indians at Target Field in downtown Minneapolis. A crowd of over 30,000 was on hand to support and cheer the Twins on to another win as they beat the Indians with a final score of 4-1. This raised their record to 58-58 and the Twins are currently in 2nd place in the American League Central Division.

Another win on Saturday was for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). The NLEOMF partnered with the Twins and hosted their inaugural law enforcement night. Over 300 law enforcement professionals, families and supporters from the Twin Cities and the State of Minnesota came out to support this special event.

The night featured a pre-game ceremony which recognized Sheriff Brad Peterson of the Minnesota Sheriffs Association as the longest serving sheriff in Minnesota, as well as President Hugo McPhee of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association and President Susan Mayerle of the Minnesota Concerns Of Police Survivors Chapter.

Fans were also treated to a special law enforcement public service announcement and tribute video from NBC sportscaster Bob Costas.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul (MN) Airport Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors during the National Anthem.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund would like to thank everyone who attended, with special thanks to Luis Breazeale and the entire Minnesota Twins Group Sales Team, Minnesota Twins Security Department, the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, Minnesota Sheriffs Association, Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police and the Minnesota COPS.

Plans are already underway for another Twins Law Enforcement Night game in 2016. Join us this winter in Minneapolis as we team up with the Minnesota Wild for a night of hockey and law enforcement.

More information on future events can be found at www.lawmemorial.org/sports.

FBI National Academy Lays Wreath at Memorial

Dressed in dark green polo shorts and khaki pants, the members of the 261st session of the FBI National Academy gathered at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on Wednesday, July 29, for their traditional wreathlaying memorial service.

With the presentation of colors by the Ceremonial Honor Guard from the Metro Transit Police Department and the National Anthem performed by Samuel Olson of the Big Lake (MN) Police Department, the FBI’s Benny Lamanna welcomed the group. Lamanna congratulated the participants for their hard work and determination that lead them through their 10-week course at the academy.

Ian Stratford, of the Toronto, Canada, Police Service, reminded the officers of the names on the walls of the Memorial around them. “Heroes,” he called them, adding “law enforcement were the ones who ran in when everyone else was running out.”

After the wreath placement ceremony and roll call of fallen officers, Lamanna asked the group to raise their right hand and rededicate themselves to their profession, to keeping the public safe.

The ceremony ended with Rick Pasciuto, retired from the U.S. Capitol Police, playing Taps and the bagpipes of Rob Deer from the Fairfax County (VA) Sheriff’s Office.

Law Enforcement Day at the 'K'

It was a perfect baseball day for the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. With the temperature topping out at 93 degrees under a bright sun, the Royals took an early 4-0 lead against the Houston Astros in the first inning during their annual ‘Law Enforcement Day at the K’ on Sunday, July 26.

More than 500 law enforcement officers, and their friends and family, came out to the ballpark to support this special event, as the Royals won their fifth straight game with the 5-1 final score, remaining at the top of the American League.

The Cass County (MO) Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard presented the colors during a pregame ceremony in honor of Missouri and Kansas law enforcement personnel. The event benefited the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Our special thanks to Ariel Peralta and the Kansas City Royals Group Sales, the Missouri Chiefs of Police Association and the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police. Check out www.lawmemorial.org/sports for the latest law enforcement appreciation sporting events to honor law enforcement.

Secret Service Commemorates 150th Anniversary

William Craig’s name sits in the shadow of Littleleaf Linden trees on the eastern wall of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Visitors might pass it, on the sixth row of Panel 16, without knowing that Craig was the first Secret Service officer to die in the line of duty in 1902.

Craig, who was killed while protecting President Theodore Roosevelt, and 35 other employees who have died while working for the United States Secret Service, were commemorated on Thursday, July 9, at the Memorial in a ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the creation of the agency.

Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy spoke of the hard work agents put into their day, and the importance of the people they’re assigned to protect. An agency that was first created to stop the spread of counterfeit currency now protects the President of the United States, as well as fights against financial crimes throughout the country.

It is an agency older than both the FBI and CIA, and continues to be one of the most visible as they flank official representatives of the United States throughout the world.

World Police & Fire Games Host Candlelight Ceremony

As the sun set over the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, on June 30, a large group from the Fairfax 2015 World Police & Fire Games gathered at the site to honor their fallen comrades with a candlelight Memorial Service.

Bagpipes were played throughout the ceremony that included an invocation by Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo, of St. Patrick Catholic Church in DC, and a presentation of colors by a combined honor guard from Fairfax County (VA) Fire and Rescue, Police Department and Sheriff’s Office.

Memorial Fund Chief of Staff Herbert V. Giobbi shared welcome remarks, in which he described the bravery of those who choose to be law enforcement officers. He spoke about Lyndhurst (NJ) Police Officer Michael Keane, who was on Amtrak train 188 when it derailed in Philadelphia in May. Officer Keane was heading home after having participated in the Police Unity Tour, as part of the National Police Week festivities in Washington, DC. When the train crashed, Officer Keane’s immediate reaction, after checking on his fiancé, was to start helping the others who had been injured.

Later when Officer Keane was asked why he had jumped into action, he said, “It’s my job. That’s what I’m put on this planet to do.” Mr. Giobbi stressed that officers throughout the country were put on this planet to do just that, to save the lives of others.

FBI Director James Comey Jr. took the stage as the keynote speaker and promised to continue working hard to make sure more officers aren’t killed in the line of duty, and that the names on the walls of the surrounding Memorial would always be remembered.

The lighting of the candles immediately followed led by Fairfax County (VA) Police Department 2^nd Lieutenant Bruce Blechl, who helped bring the World Police & Fire Games to Fairfax. He invited survivors of fallen officers from Fairfax County to spread the light through the crowd, as an Air Force bugler played ‘Taps.’

When the ceremony concluded, the athletes were wished well in their continued games, where thousands of professional and public safety athletes from around the world compete in more than 65 sports. The World Police & Fire Games are held every two years, with the 2017 games scheduled for Montreal, Canada. 

VALOR's Officer Safety App, Stay Safe and Mobile

The VALOR Program, a project of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, is devoted to helping prevent violence against law enforcement officers and ensuring officer resilience against violent encounters.

In addition to the training sessions they've offered across the country over the past few years, the VALOR program recently released a unique officer safety app for mobile devices.

The app "promotes the mental and physical preparation of officers" through a variety of informative resources available on the go and several useful pre-service checklists.

Learn more and check the app for iPhone or Android devices.

Survivors Visit Memorial On Scholarship Trip

On the sunny morning of June 24 in Washington, DC, 15 students gathered at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to walk amongst the names of our fallen heroes. The students, recipients of the ICMA-RC Public Employee Memorial Scholarship, were given a tour by Memorial Programs Assistant Debbie Catena, who told them about the Memorial, including the significance of the rose and shield medallion and details about the upcoming National Law Enforcement Museum across the street.

The ICMA-RC Public Employee Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to “honor public employees who have made the ultimate sacrifice.” It provides scholarships for secondary education to the survivors of employees who died in the line of duty.

“ICMA-RC Memorial Scholarship Award recipients are remarkable for having triumphed over tremendous loss to achieve exceptional personal and academic success,” said ICMA-RC President and CEO Bob Schultze.

The students were solemn as they walked through the Memorial, paying their respects to the more than 20,000 fallen law enforcement officials whose names are etched in the marble walls.

“The recipients of the ICMA-RC Public Employee Memorial Scholarship appreciated the opportunity to visit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and were very moved by their experiences,” said Alex Hannah, ICMA-RC Vice President of Marketing Communications and Education.

“The students and their relatives who lost loved ones in the line of duty will long remember being at the memorial to reflect on their parents' honorable service.”

The tour group also met with local safety officials and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation at a commemorative dinner at the National Press Club.

Mario Biaggi, Founder of Law Enforcement Memorial, Dies at 97

Former U.S. Rep. Mario Biaggi, the New York City police legend who founded the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) in 1984, died at his Bronx home yesterday at the age of 97.

Mr. Biaggi joined the New York City Police Department in 1942 and went on to serve with great distinction for 23 years. At the time of his retirement and for many years later, he was the most decorated police officer in New York City history. In his 23 years on the police force, Mr. Biaggi was injured 10 times in the line of duty, and he received 28 heroism commendations, including the Police Medal of Honor for Valor—the Department’s highest award, given for extreme acts of courage. He retired in 1965 as a Detective Lieutenant.

In 1968, Mr. Biaggi was elected to serve in the United States Congress, where for the next 20 years he was law enforcement’s most vocal and effective voice on Capitol Hill. In 1984, Mr. Biaggi formed the NLEOMF and his legislation to have a national monument built in honor of America’s law enforcement officers became law that same year. His dream became a reality when the Memorial was dedicated in 1991. Today, that Memorial stands proudly in historic Judiciary Square in Washington, D.C. and bears the names of 20,538 law enforcement officers who died in the performance of duty.

“Our nation has lost a man of great courage, compassion and achievement,” declared NLEOMF Chairman and CEO Craig W. Floyd, who also served as Mr. Biaggi’s legislative assistant for 10 years. “Through a life devoted to public service, Congressman Biaggi touched countless lives in a very positive and meaningful way.”

In 1998, Mr. Biaggi received the Memorial Fund’s Distinguished Service Award.  In accepting the organization’s top award, he said, “I am a recipient of an award that is extremely significant, probably the most significant award I’ve received in an entire lifetime of public service and law enforcement.”

Mr. Biaggi was once dubbed “New York’s best service Congressman” by New York magazine and his legislative achievements on behalf of the elderly, children, law enforcement officers and many others were remarkable. Yet, when asked later in life what would be his legacy, he said, “Your legacy is your family.” Mr. Biaggi is survived by his four children, Barbara, Jacqueline, Richard and Mario II, as well as 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

The Biaggi family will receive visitors at a wake on Monday and Tuesday, June 29-30, at the Hudson Funeral Parlor at 6110 Riverdale Ave., Riverdale, NY. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, July 1, at St. Philip Neri Church in the Bronx.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund . 

Houston Astros Host 2nd Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Night

Despite the heavy rains and storms going on this past week in Texas, it was a great night on Friday, May 29, as the Houston Astros honored the service and sacrifice of all Texas Law Enforcement Officers during the 2nd Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Night at Minute Maid Park. $5.00 from each ticket was donated to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The Astros battled against the Chicago White Sox in an exciting game that lasted 11 innings, however the Astros came up short in a 6-3 loss.

A special pre-game ceremony was held as the Harris County Constable Precinct #5 Honor Guard presented the colors during the National Anthem. Also prior to the game, the Houston Astros recognized and honored the following Texas police departments and officers for their service, Houston Police Department Officer Luis Menendez, Houston Police Department SWAT Officer Lance Gibson, Pearland Police Department Officer Thomas Landis, and Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy David Finley.

Fans enjoyed fireworks after the game.

Plans are already underway for the 3rd Annual Law Enforcement Night, our thanks to Ray Hunt and the Houston Police Officers Union, Houston Astros account representative Jake Winowich and Texas native Roderick Janich for putting on a great event. Check out www.lawmemorial.org/sports for all the latest law enforcement nights and mark your calendars for September 17 as the Houston Astros travel to Arlington and take on the Texas Rangers for another Law Enforcement Night.

20th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony Held for FBI Special Agent William Christian, Jr.

On this day in 1995, Special Agent William H. Christian, Jr. was shot and killed during a manhunt for Ralph McLean, who was wanted for two unprovoked attacks on D.C. police officers. Special Agent Christian was praised as "a regular guy and a real family man." He was the first one in the office each day and always volunteered for the toughest assignments.

The FBI Washington Field Office, Society of Former Special Agents, and FBI Agents Association held a Memorial Service today at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Opening remarks were given by Andrew McCabe, Assistant Director in Charge, FBI Washington Field Office. Followed by an invocation by Reverend Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo and the presentation of colors by the FBI Police Honor Guard.

The Honor Guard led the placement of two wreaths beside Special Agent Christian's name on the Memorial. Remarks were given by Charlie Prouty, FBI Special Agent (ret.); Bill Megary, FBI Special Agent (ret.); and Mark Giuliano, Deputy Director, FBI.

On May 30, 1995, FBI Director Freeh said Special Agent Christian "was willing to stand in the breach, on the very, very thin line between good and evil, putting his own life at risk, putting the fortunes of his family at risk."

If you wish to pay your respects, you can find Special Agent Chrstian's name on the Memorial at 35-W: 20.

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.

Congratulations to our 2015 Harley-Davidson Raffle Winner

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund would like to extend our congratulations to the winner of this year’s Harley Davidson raffle, Sgt. Michael L.!

Michael purchased a couple tickets the past two years. He is a long time supporter of the Memorial Fund and was just in town for Police Week activities. Congratulations Michael!

We greatly appreciate the participation and support from everyone in our annual Harley raffle. And a big thanks and shout out to our friends at Harley-Davidson for their steadfast support.

36th Annual Washington Area Police Memorial Service

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 master of ceremonies.



This annual service recognizes the work of all DC Metro area law enforcement officers. Special recognition was given to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in 2014, including Corporal Jamel Clagett and Sergeant Clinton Jeffrey Holtz.

Following the presentation of colors and the national anthem, introductory remarks were given by District of Columbia Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier, followed by remarks from District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and guest speaker Heather Fong, Assistant Secretary of the Office of State and Local Law at the US Department of Homeland Security. Representatives from the Charles County (MD) Sheriff's Office and United States Capitol Police spoke about their officers lost in the past year, which was followed by a solemn roll call of fallen heroes from the DC Metro area.

Survivors, law enforcement officers and friends placed blue roses along the edge of the fountain at the Washington Law Enforcement Memorial as the names of the fallen were read. As a special tribute, an MPD helicopter conducted a ceremonial fly-over at the end of the service.

The names of the officers honored at the service today will be dedicated on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at the 27th Annual Candlelight Vigil this Sunday, May 13 at 8:00 pm, along with 273 other officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

For more information about National Police Week 2015, including a complete schedule of events, visit www.LawMemorial.org/PoliceWeek.

20th Annual LawRide

Today, law enforcement officers and motorcycle enthusiasts gathered at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC for the 20th Annual LawRide to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Hundreds of motorcyclists cruised past the U.S. Capitol, down Pennsylvania Avenue, and up 5th Street on their way to the Memorial.



Immediately following the ride, a ceremony was held and four ceremonial wreaths were placed at the Memorial’s center medallion, to honor all the fallen heroes of American law enforcement.

 For photos from the 2014 LawRide, as well as from other events happening during National Police Week, follow NLEOMF at www.facebook.com/nleomf, on instagram @nleomf and on twitter @nleomf.

For more information about National Police Week 2014, including a complete schedule of events, visit www.LawMemorial.org/PoliceWeek.

24th Annual Correctional Officers Wreath Laying Ceremony

This morning, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Corrections Chiefs Committee gathered at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to honor correctional officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.



Since the Memorial was first dedicated in October 1991, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Corrections Chiefs Committee has conducted an annual ceremony at the Memorial to recognize the service and sacrifice of our nation's correctional officers.

The roll call of fallen heroes was solemnly read aloud as members of the participating honor guards carried red roses to the center medallion of the Memorial. A special moment of tribute was held for for Carolyn Ann Cross, Deputy Director of the District of Columbia Department of Corrections, who was lost last year. After each flower was placed, a single bell tolled. In a traditional symbolic gesture, white doves were released at the end of the ceremony and a wreath was placed at the medallion.

The ceremony is held during National Correctional Officers and Employees Week (May 3-9, 2015), which was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Proclaiming the first-ever National Correctional Officers' Week on May 5, 1984, President Reagan called “upon officials of State and local governments and the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

In 1996, Congress officially changed the name of the week to National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. These courageous heroes are forever remembered. Their light continues to shine through their memory and through the selfless men and women who continue to serve each day.

Detroit Tigers Host Law Enforcement Appreciation Night

On Wednesday April 22nd, the Detroit Tigers hosted Law Enforcement Appreciation Night benefiting the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund in Detroit, Michigan.

Pregame festivities featured a display of area police cars in front of Comerica Park on Witherell Street. A special helicopter flyover featured the Michigan State Police and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Blackhawk Helicopter. The Kent-Metro (Grand Rapids, MI) Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors as Officer Brendan Moore of the Ferndale (MI) Police Department performed the National Anthem

The Tigers dedicated the opening ceremony of last night's game in honor of Ingham County (MI) Deputy Sheriff Grant Whitaker and Michigan Department of Corrections Officer Chad Charles, who were killed in the line of duty in 2014. Their names will  be formally dedicated at the 27th annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13 during National Police Week in Washington, DC along with the names of 271 other officers from across the country.

The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by the Detroit (MI) Police Department as they celebrate their 150th Anniversary of protecting the citizens of Detroit.

Despite the temperature being 37 degrees and snow showers, over $9,500 was raised for NLEOMF. Our thanks to the Detroit Tigers Groups Sales Team, Detroit Tigers Security Department and all of the Michigan-area law enforcement agencies and organizations that attended and supported this  event. A special thanks to Memorial Fund Ambassador Brent Clark who helped coordinate the event.

Arizona Coyotes host their first Law Enforcement Appreciation Night

This past Monday, March 9th the Arizona Coyotes took on the Nashville Predators at Gila River Arena during their Inaugural Law Enforcement Night. The game was held to honor area Arizona Law Enforcement Professionals. During a special pre-game ceremony, the Glendale Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors while Sgt. Vince Lewis of the Phoenix Police Department sang the National Anthem.

It was an exciting night of hockey, however the Coyotes came up short in a 2-1 overtime loss against the Predators.

A special thanks to Megan Rivera and the Arizona Coyotes, David Neal and the Arizona Police Unity Tour and for everyone who attended. Plans are already underway for the 2016 hockey season.