MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Alabama, Middle), published as received.

            MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA— In honor of National Police Week, Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement, particularly the officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2020. This year, the week is observed Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 15, 2021.

            “This week is a time to honor our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,” said Attorney General Garland. “I am constantly inspired by the extraordinary courage and dedication with which members of law enforcement act each day, putting their lives on the line to make our communities safer. To members of law enforcement and your families: we know that not a single day, nor a single week, is enough to recognize your service and sacrifice. On behalf of the entire Department of Justice, you have our unwavering support and eternal gratitude.”

            “The men and women that serve in law enforcement play a critical role in the safety and prosperity of our nation,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Stewart. “Day after day they watch over our communities and confront crime and violence where it happens, placing their own lives at risk in the process. Last year, too many officers were killed in the line of duty while protecting and serving others, including one officer here in the Middle District. The memory and legacy of Assistant Chief Gail S. Green-Gilliam from the Phenix City Police Department will never be forgotten. We take time this week to honor and recognize those we have lost and thank those that continue to serve. I encourage all citizens to do just that, not only this week, but each week to come.”

            In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices.  Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.  

            Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities that they have sworn to serve.

            During the Roll Call of Heroes, a ceremony coordinated by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), more than 300 officers will be honored.  Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), of the law enforcement officers who died nationwide in the line of duty in 2020, nearly 60 percent succumbed to COVID-19. Here in the Middle District, one officer died in the line of duty.  

            Additionally, according to statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 46 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts and 47 died in accidents in 2020.  LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website. 

            The names of the 394 fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Thursday, May 13, 2021, during a Virtual Candlelight Vigil, which will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 pm EDT. The Police Week in-person public events, originally scheduled for May, have been rescheduled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns to October 13-17, 2021. An in-person Candlelight Vigil event is scheduled for October 14, 2021.

            Those who wish to view the Virtual Candlelight Vigil on May 13, 2021, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF. The FOP’s Roll Call of Heroes can be viewed at www.fop.net. To view the schedule of virtual Police Week events in May, please view NLEOMF’s Police Week Flyer.   

            To learn more about National Police Week in-person events scheduled for October, please visit www.policeweek.org.