Law enforcement officers from around the world assembled in Washington, D.C., during mid-May for Police Week, accompanied by the families and friends of fellow officers who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting us all.
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. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who’ve lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.
This year, the names of 619 officers were added to the 23,000 names already engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall located in the 400 block of E Street in NW.
The 2022 observation of Police Week in the Nation’s Capital was the first since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Officers who died as a result of contracting the disease while on duty were among those mourned.
View a slideshow of Jeff Malet’s photos of Police Week 2022 in Washington, D.C., including the candlelight vigil on the National Mall (May 13), the Steve Young National Honor Guard Competition (May 14), the National Conference of Law Enforcement Emerald Societies 28th Annual Memorial March (May 14), and the Wreath Laying Ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (May 15).
Baltimore Police Dept. Officer Ralph Dilucci Jr. and daughter march in the Emerald Societies Memorial March. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Mourning Investigator Richard Sepolio (Harris County, Texas) who died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Kahāli’a (age 5) accepts a flame from her brother Kelani (8) during the Police Week candlelight vigil on the National Mall. They were mourning their uncle, Honolulu Police Officer Kaulike Kalama who was killed in the line of duty. Photo by Jeff Malet.
United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) attend the Candlelight Vigil on the National Mall.
The Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks at the Candlelight Vigil on the National Mall.
The Union Township Police Department (Ohio) stand for inspection at the Honor Guard Competion. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Chicago Police Dept. Pipes and Drums competed in the Honor Guard Competion. Photo by Jeff Malet.
William Schield, Pipe and Drum Major, Chicago Police Dept. Pipes and Drums. Photo by Jeff Malet.
The Union Township Police Department (Ohio) perform at the Honor Guard Competion. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department lead the Emerald Societies Memorial March. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Port Authority Pipes and Drums Band. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Members of the Arizona Police march with the Emerald Societies.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Chicago Police Dept. Pipes and Drums. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Constable Nicole Szpulak, Peel Regional Police, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Peel Regional Police, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Jeff Malet.
St. Louis Country (Mo.) Pipes and Drums.
Pennsylvania State Police. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Drum Major Jeff Swanson – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Pipes and Drums. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Drum Major Jeff Swanson – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Pipes and Drums. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Deputy Sheriff, Orange County (Calif.) Photo by Jeff Malet.
U.K. constibles Terry Robinson, David Atkinson, Declan Rouse and Inspector Jason Parry. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Photo by Jeff Malet.
The Orange County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Department. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Deputy Sheriff, Orange County (Calif.) Photo by Jeff Malet.
Wreath laying service at the National Law Enforcement Memorial. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Austin Texas Police. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Conservation Officer, The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Pennsylvania State Police. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Allan Mcmurray, Trooper, Pennsylvania State Police. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Los Agneles Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Los Agneles Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. Photo by Jeff Malet.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Pipes and Drums. Photo by Jeff Malet.
St. Louis Country Police Pipes and Drums. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Pipes and Drums of Waterbury Conn. Photo by Jeff Malet
The Orange County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Department. Photo by Jeff Malet.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, or Minnesota DNR, is the agency of the U.S. state of Minnesota charged with conserving and managing the state’s natural resources.. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Wreaths line the National Law Enformcement Memorial on Police Week. Photo by Jeff Malet.
National Law Enforcement Museum, located in Judiciary Square across from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Photo by Jeff Malet.
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Clyde Parry, Chief of Police from Coral Springs Fla. shows his rubbing for his friend NYC Police Officer Stephen P. Driscoll who was killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Photgraph by Jeff Malet.
Bernard T. Waddell Jr. on the Union County N.J. Police Dept. honors his father 32 year N.J. correctional officer Bernard Waddell Sr. who succombed to COVID. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Bernard T. Waddell Jr. on the Union County Police Dept. honors his father 32 year N.J. correctional officer Bernard Waddell Sr. who succombed to COVID. Photo by Jeff Malet.
23,000 names engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall centered in the 400 block of E Street in Northwest D.C. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Ceremony at the the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Photo by Jeff Malet.
The FBI lost two officers last year. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Texas Highway Patrol. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Over 500 families placed carnations on these memorial wreaths. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Law enforcement officers participate in a wreath-laying ceremony honoring colleagues who died in the line of duty during an event at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on May 15. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Over 500 families placed carnations on these memorial wreaths. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Changing of the guard. Shelby Township (Mich.) and Los Angeles County Sheriff and
Over 500 families placed carnations on these memorial wreaths. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Law enforcement officers participate in a wreath-laying ceremony honoring colleagues who died in the line of duty during an event at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on May 15. Photo by Jeff Malet.
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Photo by Jeff Malet.