EDVA Honors Fallen Law Enforcement Heroes at Police Week Events

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Last night U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger attended the 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil at the National Mall in support of National Police Week. 

“During Police Week, our nation appropriately pauses to celebrate the service and bravery of police officers from around the country who selflessly gave their last full measure of devotion,” said Terwilliger. “We will forever be in their debt for keeping our communities safe and allowing us the luxury of pursuing those ideals set forth by our founding fathers of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As first prioritized by former Attorney General Sessions and now reinforced by Attorney General Barr, the Department is committed to supporting our federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and their families. EDVA has their back, and they most certainly have our deepest thanks. Respect. Honor. Remember.”

National Police Week events began last week and will continue through this week, as the official dates being observed are May 12 to May 18.

Last Tuesday, Terwilliger joined law enforcement and faith-based community leaders at the 25th Annual Blue Mass at Saint Patrick’s Church in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, Terwilliger attended the Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Police Memorial in Waterfront Park honoring Alexandria Police Officers and Sheriff Deputies who have died in the line of duty. On Friday, Terwilliger attended the Observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day hosted by the Arlington County Police Department and Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service Annual Memorial Ceremony in Arlington.

Yesterday afternoon, Terwilliger attended the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 2019 Police Week Ceremony in Washington, D.C., and today he will attend Attorney General Barr’s law enforcement reception in honor of National Police Week, and the ATF’s 23rd Annual Memorial Observance in Washington, D.C.

In October 1962, Congress enacted a joint resolution, which the President signed, declaring May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. The resolution also created National Police Week as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice.

According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2018. Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018 https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2018/ recently released by the FBI.

The names of all 106 fallen officers nationwide were formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil tonight on the National Mall.

For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.