Law Enforcement Museum Opens Its Doors (photos)


The National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C., hosted an opening ceremony and a ribbon cutting on Thursday, Oct. 11, two days ahead of the public grand opening.

The dual mission of the privately funded museum is to tell the history of law enforcement and to strengthen the relationship between the law enforcement community and the citizens it serves. The 57,000-square-foot, $103-million structure is located at 444 E St. NW in the downtown Judiciary Square neighborhood, mostly underground. Adult admission is $21.95. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours on Thursday until 9 p.m.

Prominent among the 7,000 items on display: the rifle used in the infamous “D.C. sniper” shootings in 2002, the bulletproof vest that gangster Al Capone wore and the desk that belonged to first FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. An additional 14,000 items are located off-site and will be switched out with current exhibits in the coming months and years. The oldest item on display is a sheriff’s writ from 1703. A theater, interactive displays, classrooms and a gift shop complete the facility.

Participating in the ribbon cutting were: Charles H Ramsey, former commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department and, before that, D.C. police chief; Greg Brown, chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions; actor Clint Eastwood; former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft; and Craig W. Floyd, president and CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was a featured speaker. Former FBI Director William H. Webster and former New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly were among the many law enforcement luminaries in attendance. The District was represented by Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke represented the White House. The Duke Ellington School of the Arts Voices in Motion Choir provided entertainment.

View Jeff Malet’s photos of the National Law Enforcement Museum’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 11, and opening day festivities on Oct. 13, by clicking on the photo icons below.

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