National Police Memorial Week 2019 begins today, Sunday, May 12 and ends on Saturday, May 18, 2019.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. The Police Memorial Week is an observance that pays tribute to the local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington D.C. to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

National Police Week draws in between 25,000 to 40,000 attendees. The attendees come from departments throughout the United States as well as from agencies throughout the world.