Chief Robert MacDonald and the Dighton Police Department are honoring law enforcement officers across the country during National Police Week.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. It was established by a joint resolution of Congress in the same year and honors law enforcement officers across the country, paying special recognition to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
In honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day on Sunday, May 15, Dighton Police will join agencies nationwide in flying its flags at half-staff to honor officers who have given their lives in service to their communities.
“During this week, we would like to acknowledge and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in their line of work,” Chief MacDonald said. “On behalf of the men and women of the Dighton Police Department, we thank them for their sacrifice and extend our condolences to those impacted by these losses.”
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, there were 617 law enforcement line of duty deaths in the U.S. in 2021, 439 of which are attributed to COVID-19. So far in 2022, 105 line of duty deaths have been recorded.
Each year, hundreds of names of officers killed in the line of duty are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the names are read aloud during a Candlelight Vigil. This year, the names of 619 fallen officers were added to the Memorial, including 472 officers who died in 2021 and an additional 147 officers who died in years before 2021. The 34th Annual Candlelight Vigil will take place on Friday, May 13.
Thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world gather in Washington, D.C. during National Police Week to pay their respects to fallen officers through a number of scheduled events. The week also honors the family members, friends and fellow officers of fallen officers.
###
