SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Gregory K. Harris recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local, law enforcement. 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 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.”
“I join Attorney General Garland in paying tribute to the brave and dedicated men and women in law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Harris. “These committed public servants devote countless hours toward making our communities safe, work that all too often places them in significant peril. Tragically, here in the Central District of Illinois, we have had officers make the ultimate sacrifice. My thoughts and prayers are with their families and colleagues.”
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 submitted to and analyzed by 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.
The Central District of Illinois grieves the following officers who served in the district and were killed in the line of duty in 2021 and this year:
- Knox County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Deputy Nicholas D. Weist, End of Watch Date: April 29, 2022
- Bradley, Illinois, Police Department Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic, End of Watch Date: December 30, 2021
- Peoria County Illinois, Corrections Officer Camron Passie, End of Watch Date: December 5, 2021
- Champaign, Illinois, Police Officer Chris Oberheim, End of Watch Date: May 19, 2021
- Illinois State Police Senior Master Trooper Todd A. Hanneken, End of Watch Date: March 25, 2021
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 attacks [1] 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 the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial 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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