U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg Recognizes Police Week

Tampa, FL – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Roger Handberg recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. This year, national events are taking place in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, May 10 through Monday, May 15, 2023.

“Each day, law enforcement officers across America answer the call to uphold the law, preserve the peace, and protect all of us from harm,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “This sacred duty comes with great responsibility and oftentimes at great risk. This week, our District remembers the men and women who have paid the ultimate price while answering the call to public service and supports those who continue to serve the people of Florida and across our nation.”

In 1962, President 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. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 118 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2022.  During this period, four officers have died in the line of duty in the Middle District of Florida.

Additionally, according to 2022 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 60 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2022 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 58 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts decreased 17.8% in 2022, when compared to the 73 officers who were killed as a result of criminal acts in 2021. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program. 

The names of 556 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Saturday, May 13, 2023, during a Candlelight Vigil (https://nleomf.org/event/35th-annual-candlelight-vigil/) in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.

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Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.