MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Police Department has announced two public events to mark Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week in May.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as National Police Week.
“In Mansfield and across the country, we take this time to express our gratitude to the men and women who serve with dedication and courage,” Mansfield police Chief Jason Bammann said.
To honor fallen officers, Mansfield police officers will wear mourning bands on their badges throughout the week.
Two memorial ceremonies are planned for May 12:
— 8:30 a.m. — The Mansfield Police Honor Guard will conduct a ceremony at the Mansfield Police Memorial, located on the south side of the Central Park square, honoring all fallen officers from Richland County.
— 9 a.m. — A second ceremony will take place on the second floor of the Mansfield Municipal Building, honoring fallen Mansfield officers. This will include a reading of the Police Week proclamation.
The chief said the department especially remembers four Mansfield officers who died in the line of duty:
— Brian Evans, end of watch on Dec. 26, 2007.
— Michael Hutchison, end of watch on Feb. 6, 1976.
— William Taylor, end of watch on Feb. 26, 1949.
— John Englehart Jr., end of watch on Aug. 7, 1893.
Flags on all federal buildings will be flown at half-staff on May 15 in observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day. This tradition was established by President Bill Clinton in 1994, honoring the more than 24,280 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 165 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2024, a 6 percent increase from the year prior.
That includes 52 officers shot and killed, up from 47 in 2023; 49 officers who died in traffic-related accidents, up from 37 in 2023; 64 officers who died from other causes, including medical emergencies, falling objects, fire-related accidents and other duty-related tragedies.
“Just as our military service members are remembered for defending our freedom, so too are our fallen law enforcement officers remembered for protecting our lives and communities,” Bammann said.
In recognition of National Police Week, Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry has issued a proclamation designating May 11-17 as Police Week and May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in the city.
