Attorney General Sessions and U.S. Attorney Hayes Recognize Law Enforcement Service and Sacrifice During National Police Week

Seattle – Attorney General Sessions and U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes for the Western District of Washington honor the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers on the occasion of National Police Week, and issuance of the FBI's 2017 Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted report.

Kalama, Washington Police Chief Randall Scott Gibson is listed in the Roll Call of Heroes as an officer who died in the line of duty in 2017.  Chief Gibson went into respiratory distress while performing a high stress arrest on January 10, 2017.  He was treated at a hospital, but died later that night at his home.  He had been with the Kalama Police Department for six years, following a twenty-year career with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri.

 “One officer death is too many,” Attorney General 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.”

“We remember and honor Chief Gibson and his service to the citizens of Kalama, and all of us in Western Washington,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. Chief Gibson will be one of the officers who will be honored for their many sacrifices at the National Peace Officer Memorial Service tomorrow in Washington D.C.  Sadly, 2018 began with the line of duty death of Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel A. McCartney, 34, of Yelm, who was shot and killed while responding to a home invasion robbery. He will be honored for his ultimate sacrifice at next year’s service.”

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.

For the full comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks and selected assaults resulting in injury, please see the 2017 edition of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted report, released today.

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.

During Police Week, which is observed from Sunday, May 13 to Saturday, May 19, 2018, 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.

The names of all 93 fallen officers nationwide were 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. 

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.

To access the FBI's 2017 Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted report, please visit www.fbi.gov.