FARGO - Communities across the United States will come together during National Police Week, May 13-19, to honor and remember those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends, and fellow officers they left behind.

To commemorate National Police Week, United States Attorney Timothy Purdon will speak at the Law Enforcement Memorial Day Ceremony at noon on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at Fargo’s Lindenwood Park, 5th Street and 17th Avenue South, Fargo.

In Fargo, United States Attorney Purdon said, “This year in North Dakota we have been reminded that we are not immune to deadly violence directed at law enforcement officers. While we remember and honor the two North Dakota officers who died in the line of duty this past year, we must also make the
commitment that we must meet increased violence with increased vigilance. We must continue to work together to do everything in our power to ensure the safety of the law enforcement professionals who protect our neighborhoods and communities.”

This year the names of 362 officers killed in the line of duty are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial in Washington, D.C. These 362 officers include 162 officers who were killed during 2011, plus 199 officers who died in previous years, but whose stories of sacrifice had been lost to history until now.

The fallen officers whose names will be added to the Memorial this year include two members of the law enforcement community in North Dakota: Bismarck Police Sgt. Steve Kenner and Burleigh County Sheriff’s Deputy Bryan Sleeper. Sgt. Kenner, a 32-year member of the Bismarck Police Department, was
the first police officer killed in the line of duty in the history of the Bismarck Police Department. He was shot July 8, 2011, while responding to a domestic disturbance. Deputy Sleeper, who joined the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department in 2007, died of an apparent heart attack on September 28, 2011, after
assisting another officer in arresting an alleged drunken driver.

All fallen law enforcement officers from North Dakota will be remembered during Police Week services being held at noon on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at Fargo’s Lindenwood Park.

The names of all 362 fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the 24th Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2012. So that people across the country can experience this unique and powerful ceremony, the vigil will be webcast live over the Internet beginning at 8:00 p.m. (EDT) on May 13. To
register for this free online event, visit www.LawMemorial.org/webcast.

 

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