In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation that designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. This year, National Police Week is May 12–18, 2024—a time to support law enforcement communities and honor officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Source: Office for Victims of Crime
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Fraternal Order of Police/Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary, and Concerns of Police Survivors annually lead the Nation in commemorating National Police Week.
Register to attend a Candlelight Vigil to honor fallen law enforcement officers on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 8:00 p.m., eastern time on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. View the National Police Week webpage for a schedule of all events.
This month, we highlight the following resources for law enforcement.
Our partners at the Bureau of Justice Assistance administer the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program. This program provides death and education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders, and disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance also administers the VALOR Officer Safety and Wellness Initiative, an effort to improve the immediate and long-term safety, wellness, and resilience of our Nation’s law enforcement officers. The goal of the program is to provide law enforcement personnel with the necessary tools to return home safe and well after every shift. The VALOR Initiative offers training and resources for every level of law enforcement.
The OVC Support for Law Enforcement flier showcases OVC’s support for programs that help law enforcement personnel compassionately and effectively meet the needs of crime victims. Featured resources include the following:
- The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit can help law enforcement agencies strengthen their ability to address work-related exposure to trauma.
- The International Association of Chiefs of Police, with funding from OVC, developed the Vicarious Trauma Response Initiative to identify and develop skills and practices needed to promote healthy, comprehensive, and sustained collaborative approaches that buffer and mitigate the negative effects of vicarious trauma. Register to take the Vicarious Trauma Response Initiative online training series.
- Under the Fostering Resilience and Hope: Bridging the Gap Between Law Enforcement and the Community program, OVC is supporting the development of a Community of Practice (CoP), a system of critical inquiry and reflection focused on building shared learning over time.
In 2022, the CoP identified 25 law enforcement agencies to work on a hope-centered framework to assist law enforcement officers with addressing trauma and adversity to repair and rebuild relationships within the community. An evaluation is being conducted and will produce a final report showcasing best practice.
Visit the Law Enforcement section of our site for additional resources.
