National Police Week Honors Fallen Officers Across The Country

WASHINGTON, D.C. — National Police Week is attracting tens of thousands of attendees to the nation's capital for an annual tradition honoring officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

President Trump and Vice President Pence spoke at a ceremony Monday honoring the sacrifices of law enforcement officers. "Words cannot express the depths of our gratitude, but I hope that our actions will show you how deeply we care and how strongly we feel about protecting those who protect us," Trump said.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 135 officers were killed in the line of duty in 2016. This is the highest number in five years.

The names of the officers added to the memorial this year can be found at the National Police Week website.

The memorial itself is composed by two curved marble walls that span 304 feet. It records the names of officers dating back to 1791.

"Unlike many other memorials in Washington, DC, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is ever-changing," the website notes. "New names of fallen officers are added to the monument each spring, in conjunction with National Police Week."

It currently features more than 20,000 names.

President Kennedy designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in 1962. The memorial service was first held in Senate Park in 1982. Most years, between 25,000 and 40,000 people travel to the site for National Police Week.

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