Every May 15th, Peace Officers Memorial Day pays tribute to local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice or been injured in the line of duty. The observance takes place during Police Week.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, more than 800,000 law enforcement officers serve in the United States today. Each year, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial adds new names to the wall, on average 163 deaths per year. Fallen law enforcement officers represent all levels of law enforcement, including local, state, federal, tribal, and military law enforcement. They’re family members, husbands, wives, parents, sons, and daughters.

The day honors fallen LEO across the nation and offers support to their surviving family members and officers. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., features the names of more than 22,000 law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty. While they are usually honored with a public gathering at the Memorial on the Wednesday of Police Week, this year it was a virtual candelight vigil held on Wednesday.

Many organizations, government agencies, and private citizens fly flags at half-staff in memory of those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice to observe #PeaceOfficersMemorialDay. Services honoring the fallen are conducted across the country, including Washington, D.C. Attend a memorial near you. Support families of fallen and injured law enforcement officers.

We’d like to offer a big word of thanks to the officers who serve with the Kissimmee Police Department, St. Cloud Police Department, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol for continuing to make a positive difference in Osceola County.