May 11, 2022 – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, county, and local law enforcement officers in Vermont. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
U.S. Attorney Kerest stated “I, along with members of my office, take this opportunity to recognize the dedication and courage of our law enforcement partners. Every day in Vermont, our federal, state, county, and local officers show up and diligently and compassionately perform their jobs and keep our communities safe. Law enforcement officers regularly face uncertain and dangerous situations, putting themselves in harm’s way to confront violence and protect victims of crime. Their work is not easy, and while it is vital to the safety of all Vermonters, it often goes unrecognized. My office commends and thanks each of them for their commitment and valor. National Police Week also is a time to think about officer wellness. Law enforcement officers regularly face highly stressful situations. The pressures of responding to unknown circumstances take a toll even absent a public health emergency. I encourage everyone to get in touch with a police officer this week and convey gratitude for their sacrifices.”
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.
Based on data from the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19, underscoring the added dangers that officers have faced during the pandemic. Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks1 were the cause of 24 deaths, significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of 619 fallen officers were added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial. Their names will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
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Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.
1 An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.