MANSFIELD, Ohio–In recognition of law enforcement officers in Mansfield and throughout the country, the United States Congress has designated May 10-16 as Police Week.
The Mansfield Police Departments asks the community to remember the families of Mansfield Police Officers Brian D. Evans killed December 26, 2007; Michael R. Hutchison killed February 6, 1976; William J. Taylor killed February 26, 1949; and John Englehart Jr. killed August 7, 1893; and Shelby Police Officer Walter A. Means killed April 24, 1954. They each gave their lives to protect others in Richland County.
Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker issued a proclamation, proclaiming May 10-16 as Police Week and May 15 as Peace Officer’s Memorial Day in the City of Mansfield.
In memory of those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our community, Mansfield officers will wear “mourning badges” during National Police Week.
The Mansfield Police Honor Guard will honor the fallen officers at a ceremony held on the second floor of the Mansfield Municipal Building at 9 a.m., Monday, May 11. The ceremony is open to the public.
As a reminder, flags of all federal buildings will again fly at half-staff on May 15, commemorating Police Officers Memorial Day. In 1994, President Clinton signed a law, P.L. 103-322, requiring the American flag to be lowered on this day as a tribute to the more than 20,538 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. This is a rarest of honors.
The only other regularly scheduled day that the flags fly at half-staff is Memorial Day. Like those in our armed services, our fallen law enforcement officers died while protecting the lives and freedoms of others.
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund website:
Since the first recorded police death in 1791, there have been over 20,538 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
During 2014, 126 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. This represents a 24 percent increase from 2013, when 102 officers were killed. A total of 38 police officers have already been killed this year.
Firearms-related incidents were the leading cause of death among law enforcement officers in 2014. Firearms-related fatalities accounted for 50 deaths, increasing 56 percent form 2013 when 32 officers were killed.
Traffic-related incidents were the second leading cause of officer deaths in 2014, killing 49 officers. Thirty-five officers died in automobile crashes nine officers were struck and killed outside their vehicle and five officers were killed motorcycle crashes. Traffic-related fatalities increased 11 percent from 2013 when 44 officers were killed.
Forty-nine officers were killed in traffic-related accidents, 50 were killed by firearms, and 27 officers died due to other causes. Twenty-seven officers died from other causes in 2014 compared to 26 in 2013, a four percent increase.
Ambush attacks were again the leading circumstance of officer fatalities in firearms-related deaths. Of the 50 firearms-related fatalities in 2014, 15 officers were shot and killed in ambush attacks, more than any circumstance of fatal shootings in 2014.
