Peace Officers Memorial Day in the USA Date in the current year: May 15, 2024

Peace Officers Memorial Day in the USA was created on October 1, 1961 by Congress. It asked President John F. Kennedy to designate May 15 as the memorial day that honors all peace officers who had died in the line of duty. The bill was signed by President and it came into law on October 1, 1962. The following proclamation by the president designated May 15 of each year as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as Police Week.

The observation of the day includes different ceremonies that honor all peace officers and reminds us about their role in maintaining peace in country and protection people against all kinds of crime and terrorism.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall in Washington, D.C. centers much of the holiday. The wall features more than 19,000 names of peace officers who have died in the line of duty. This wall and event draw about 40,000 law enforcement officers and their families to Washington, D.C. annually.