MANSFIELD — Police Week is a national week dedicated to honoring police officers and their families who have died in the line of duty.
The week begins on May 12, and May 15 is Police Officer’s Memorial Day.
During Police Week, the Mansfield Police Honor Guard will honor all fallen officers from Richland County on May 13 at 8 a.m. The ceremony will take place at the Mansfield Police Memorial.
The Honor Guard will also participate in a second ceremony on May 15, where it will honor officers from the Mansfield Police Department. The ceremony will take place on the second floor of the Mansfield Municipal Building.
The City of Mansfield is also encouraging residents to take the opportunity to remember the families of Mansfield Police Officers Brian D. Evans, Michael R. Hutchison, William J. Taylor, and John Englehart Jr., who have died in the line of duty.
In 2023, 136 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty, with 47 of those deaths being shot and killed in the line of duty, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund website.
The number of officers who died in the line of duty decreased by 39% in 2023 when compared to the previous year.
The Mansfield Police Department joins the nation in mourning the loss of these 136 dedicated officers.
Source Media Properties used an experimental artificial intelligence tool to locate the source data and develop the first draft of this article. A professional editor reviewed the accuracy and writing before publishing.