During National Police Week, let's remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice
On April 29, four members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force were killed in the line of duty and several others were wounded while attempting to apprehend a fugitive in North Carolina.
Two days before the North Carolina attack, two deputies in Polk County were shot.
About two weeks before that attack, a deputy in Hillsborough County was shot at, narrowly escaping serious injury because the bullet hit his service radio.
And there have been countless other attacks against law enforcement, here in Florida and across the country.
These attacks are just some of the examples of how, each day, members of law enforcement put their lives on the line to protect the people in this community from harm. For that, they deserve our never-ending thanks.
And for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we owe so much more. It is important that we remember them and honor them, so their sacrifice is never forgotten.
In 1962, President John F. 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.
May 12 is the start of National Police Week. On May 13, a candlelight vigil will be held at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC, to honor the 282 officers who died in line of duty — including 118 killed in 2023 — whose names have been added to the Memorial this year. With those additions, there are more than 24,000 names engraved on the Memorial.
Many of those heroes who died in the line of duty were members of law enforcement in Florida. The Florida Law Enforcement Memorial and the Florida Sheriff’s Association Law Enforcement Memorial are both located in Tallahassee. There are 969 names engraved on the Florida Law Enforcement Memorial, and 431 names engraved on the FSA Law Enforcement Memorial.
Those Memorials, and the others that are located across the country and Florida, serve to remind us why we should be grateful to the members of law enforcement in this country who put themselves in harm’s way to keep our communities safe. For each of the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, law enforcement was not an ordinary job. It was a calling. It was something they did because they were dedicated to protecting and serving the members of the community where they lived. We owe them a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay.
One way we should honor these heroes is by making sure we never forget the sacrifices they have made. Another way is to express our appreciation, gratitude, and support for the families, friends, and colleagues of every officer who was killed in the line of duty and to join them in their efforts to keep the legacies of their loved ones alive in their absence.
During National Police Week, I hope everyone will take a moment to show your gratitude and thank the members of law enforcement who serve our community for everything they do to keep us safe. And I hope everyone will remember those officers who were killed, disabled, or injured in the line of duty. We are forever grateful for their selfless acts and courage.
Roger B. Handberg is the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: US Attorney: 118 law enforcement officers died last year protecting us
