U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes Law Enforcement Service And Sacrifice During National Police Week

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Nevada U.S. Attorney’s Office recognized the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers during National Police Week. During Police Week, which is observed from May 13 to 19, our nation celebrates the contributions of police officers from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment in keeping our communities safe.

“One officer death is too many,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “While we are inexpressibly grateful to have had a decrease in the number of officers killed in the line-of-duty last year, the number is still far too high. At the Department of Justice, we honor the memories of the fallen and we pray for their families. We are also following President Trump's Executive Orders to back the women and men in blue, to enhance law enforcement safety, and to reduce violent crime in America. Those priorities will help keep every American safe, including those who risk their lives for us. As always, we have their backs and they have our thanks.”

“National Police Week is a time to recognize, honor, and thank the noble and brave men and women in blue who serve in Nevada’s law enforcement community,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. “We honor and remember officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members and friends they left behind. I want to thank every law enforcement officer for their service and sacrifice.”

According to statistics collected by the FBI, 93 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2017 – a 21 percent decrease from 2016 when 118 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents. Additionally, in 2017 there were 46 law enforcement officers killed in line-of-duty incidents as a result of felonious acts – this is a 30 percent decrease from 2016, when 66 law enforcement officer were killed in line-of-duty incidents as a result of felonious acts.

The names of all 93 fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 30th Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2018.

Among those to be added this year from Nevada will be:

• Charleston Vernon Hartfield, of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, was shot and killed while rescuing concert attendees during a mass shooting in Las Vegas. He was killed on October 1, 2017.
• Chad William Parque, of the North Las Vegas Police Department, was injured in a traffic accident while exiting the North Las Vegas Justice Court’s parking lot. He died of his injuries on January 7, 2017.

So that people across the country can experience this unique and powerful ceremony, the vigil will be livestreamed beginning at 8:00 p.m. EDT on May 13th. To register for this free online event, visit www.LawMemorial.org/webcast.

The Candlelight Vigil is one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2018. For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.

In October 1962, Congress passed and President Kennedy signed a joint resolution 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.

# # #