President Obama asks Americans to observe Peace Officers Memorial Day

Published 10:41 am Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The Bothell Police Department and city of Kenmore’s flags are lowered to half-staff today in observation of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

President Obama proclaimed May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 13-19 as Police Week. He encourages all Americans to display their flags at half-staff from their homes and businesses today to show appreciation to public safety officers that work to keep communities safe.

“I am proud to recognize our law-enforcement officers. These dedicated men and women lay their lives on the line every day to protect public safety,” said Metropolitan King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson. “As a community, we are forever grateful to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe.”

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation, which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law-enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC, to participate in a number of planned events, which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

There are approximately 900,000 law-enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States, and more than 3,100 officers in King County including the dedicated members of the King County Sheriff’s Department; since the first recorded death in 1791, almost 20,000 law-enforcement officers in the United States have died in the line of duty.