Mike Levin: “this week our Nation's police officers gathered in Washington, DC to commemorate National Police Week. The week long…”

“this week our Nation's police officers gathered in Washington, DC to commemorate National Police Week. The week long tribute to our Nation's Federal, State, and local police officers honors those who have died in the line of duty and those who continue to serve and protect us at great personal risk everyday. The first National Police Week was celebrated in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed an Executive Order designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as 'Police Week.' Every year since, tens of thousands of Federal, State and local police officers have come to Washington to honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. In addition to a number of other events, police officers join for a candle light vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The first memorial service took place on May 15, 1982. On that date, approximately 125 police officers assembled in the Senate park to honor the law enforcement officers who had been killed that year. Over the past 22 years, over 3,000 law enforcement officers from around the country have been so honored. Today, there are approximately 870,000 sworn law enforcement officers serving in the United States. Over the past 10 years, a total of 1,658 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty, of which 145 were killed in 2003.”