Honoring the Fallen: National Police Week
Every May in Washington, D.C., the COPS Office actively participates in honoring the memory of the men and women of law enforcement who have given their lives while performing their duties. Tens of thousands of survivors and supporters of law enforcement also come to D.C., to pay tribute both to those who have chosen to serve their communities every day, and to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year, the COPS Office was proud to have many staffers involved in several of the activities that took place during National Police Week (May 11–17).
One important annual event that took place was the 2013 COPS Office Open House. Held in the United States Capital on May 16, COPS Office staff helped provide resources and information to law enforcement visiting the Capital, and provided Congressional members and Hill staffers a convenient way to discover more about the COPS Office grant program requirements and previous funding from the office.
Acting director of the COPS Office, Joshua Ederheimer, who attended the Open House, also represented the COPS Office in various capacities at other events throughout the week. Mr. Ederheimer participated in several events alongside Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West, such as the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund’s Candlelight Vigil and the Peace Officers Memorial Service. Mr. Ederheimer also delivered remarks to the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) Legislative Seminar, to update the NAPO members about COPS Office resources, initiatives, and grant opportunities. Additionally, COPS staff hosted various police chiefs, sheriffs, mayors, and other elected officials from across the country in their D.C. office. It gave COPS employees the opportunity to hear about national law enforcement issues and crime trends and discuss the impact of COPS grants.
COPS Office staffers also had the chance to show their support through various events. On May 11, athletic COPS employees honored Police Week by waking up on that overcast Saturday morning to participate in the annual National Police Week 5k race in downtown D.C. With approximately 2,000 racers attending, and thousands of dollars raised for the Officer Down Memorial Page (www.odmp.org/) and Concerns of Police Survivors (www.nationalcops.org/), the event was a great way for staff to come out and honor the fallen officers as they ran the course near the National Police Memorial. During Police Week itself, several employees also volunteered to help staff the COPS Booth in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) office building located at 2CON Square. They gladly answered questions and handed out important Police Week information to fellow DOJ colleagues while speaking to what the COPS Office is all about. Lastly, our External Affairs and Publishing Divisions designed several posters to put on display throughout the month of May at the RFK Main Justice Building, to highlight our commitment to officer safety and wellness and the importance of the events being held during Police Week.
While Police Week passes too quickly each year, the COPS Office remains committed to providing resources to law enforcement throughout the year. Now that summer is starting and it’s almost time to make grant announcements, the COPS Office is more aware than ever about the tough decisions that agencies are making with limited funding. With those decisions, the COPS Office is confident that the resources they offer will have a tremendous impact throughout the country.
Heather Lawrie
Intergovernmental and Public Liaison Specialist, COPS Office
Danielle Ouellette
Intergovernmental and Public Liaison Specialist, COPS Office
Meet the New DiscoverPolicing.org | Women in Law Enforcement | Leadership Strategies: Engaging the Community in the Absence of a Crisis | Honoring the Fallen: National Police Week