Press Release
U.S. Attorney Recognizes Law Enforcement Service During National Police Week
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida
Tampa, FL – Maria Chapa Lopez recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers on the occasion of National Police Week, which is being observed Sunday, May 12 to Saturday, May 18, 2019, and remembers those law enforcement officers killed and assaulted in 2018. During this month, communities throughout the Middle District of Florida (MDFL) will hold public memorial services honoring fallen officers and showing support for their families. In addition, multiple agencies will embark upon various media campaigns to strengthen connections between officers and citizens and to show appreciation for the officers’ continued service. The MDFL is home to more than 160 law enforcement agencies.
In October 1962, Congress enacted a joint resolution, which the President signed, declaring May 15th 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.
“The Middle District of Florida joins the entire nation in saluting police officers throughout the country for their hard work, dedication, and sacrifice in keeping our communities safe,” stated U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez. “We appreciate the tenacity and commitment of our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners who often place themselves in harm’s way to protect us, daily. They have our unwavering support.”
According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2018, including 1officer, Adam Edward Jobbers-Miller, here in the Middle District of Florida.
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/ released this week by the FBI.
The names of all 106 fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2019. No tickets are required and everyone is welcome. For additional information please call 202-737-3400.
Five Middle District of Florida officers were added to the Memorial this year: Deputy Sheriff Kevin James Stanton from the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, Officer Lance Christian Whitaker from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Officer Thomas Coulter from the Daytona Beach Police Department, Officer Adam Edward Jobbers-Miller from the Fort Myers Police Department, and Deputy Sheriff Benjamin LeMont Zirbel from the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
The Candlelight Vigil is one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2019.
For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.
Updated May 14, 2019
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