MADISON, WIS. – In honor of National Police Week, Richard G. Frohling and Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorneys for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”

“Police Week is an opportunity for us to honor local, state, federal, and Tribal law enforcement officers, particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney O’Shea.   “We appreciate these brave men and women who are committed to protecting the safety of all Wisconsinites.”

“Every day, members of law enforcement put their lives on the line to make our communities great places to live and work,” stated U.S. Attorney Frohling. “My colleagues and I at the U.S. Attorney’s Office are incredibly grateful for the daily sacrifices made by these brave men and women.  We must always remember, honor, and support the officers and the families of all officers who have been injured or killed in service to their communities and to their country.”

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices.  Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021.  Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19.

Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents.  Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year.  In 2021, unprovoked attacks were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting.  An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender.

The names of the fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.

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