May 12-18 is National Police Week
United States Attorney J. Douglas Overbey recognized the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers on the occasion of National Police Week, which is being observed Sunday, May 12, to Saturday, May 18, 2019.
The U.S. Attorney’s office held the annual Gatlinburg Law Enforcement Conference last week, which opened with a moving tribute to fallen officers not only in the Eastern District of Tennessee but also for each of the 17 cosponsoring U.S. Attorney’s districts. Included in this tribute were Chattanooga Police Officer Nicholas Scott Grainger, EOW February 24, 2019; and, Sergeant Steve Hinkle with the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, EOW February 26, 2018.
Both were valued members of the law enforcement community in the Eastern District of Tennessee.
In October 1962, Congress enacted a joint resolution, which the President signed, 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.
“National Police Week is a time for all of us to reflect upon and celebrate the contributions of police officers from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment in keeping our communities safe. As the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, I want to thank all of our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers, who often face uncertain and dangerous situations, and ensure them that they have the unwavering support and appreciation from the U.S. Attorney’s office,” said U.S. Attorney Overbey.
According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2018.
Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018 https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2018/ released this week by the FBI.
The names of all 106 fallen officers nationwide was formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2019.
The Candlelight Vigil was one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2019.
For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.
