Police Week - 2020

Each name inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial tells a story. It commemorates the life of a public servant who sacrificed all in service to their community. Each name honors the legacy of a hero who was taken from us too soon.

This year, the names of 135 officers who died in the line of duty in 2019 will be added. Another 172 names of officers who died in previous years will also be engraved on the wall, many whose stories had been unknown until now.

Those 307 names will be etched along side the 14 names of our fallen SEBA members:

Jeremiah MacKay
Daniel Lobo, Jr.
Greg Gariepy
Ron Ives
Russell Roberts
Keith Farley
Donald Demeulle
Clifford Sanchez
Michael Lewis
Frank Pribble
Alfred E. Stewart
Billy R. Heckle
William Litz
William Smithson

The wall is a tangible place to honor the sacrifices made by those whose names are memorialized in stone. Those names are why we gather in Washington DC as a profession each year during National Police Week. This year’s memorial events were canceled due to the global health crisis but we implore our colleagues, families and supporters to pay tribute this week on their own.

The wall holds the physical etchings of our fallen SEBA members but we honor them in our hearts each day. Our prayers go to the families of the 135 officers who died in 2019 and the 73 who have passed this year. Rest easy, brothers and sisters, we will carry on your legacy of service above self.