MANSFIELD — 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.
In recognition of law enforcement officers in Mansfield and throughout the country, the United States Congress has designated May 9 through 15 as Police Week.
“Peace Officer’s Memorial Day will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2021, and we ask that all residents take advantage of this opportunity to honor the men and women who serve Mansfield as police officers, in their own way,” Mansfield Police Chief Keith Porch said.
“We ask that you please remember the families of Mansfield Police Officers Brian D. Evans killed Dec. 26, 2007, Michael R. Hutchison killed Feb. 6, 1976, William J. Taylor killed Feb. 26, 1949 and John Englehart Jr. killed Aug. 7, 1893, who have given their lives to protect others in Richland County.”
Did you know that according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund website:
Crime fighting has taken its toll. Since the first recorded police death in 1791 there have been over 24,280 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
During 2020, 362 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty, and a total of 119 officers have already been killed in the line of duty this year.
Firearms-related fatalities, and traffic-related fatalities, were the leading cause of officer deaths during 2020. Forty-nine officers were shot and killed in firearm-related incidents, and forty-six officers were killed in traffic-related incidents.
There were 267 officers who died as a result of other causes in 2020, including heart attack, assault, drowning, explosion, aircraft, heat stroke, and duty related illness (including 14 from 9/11 and 234 from COVID-19 related illness).
There were 22 Police K-9 line of duty deaths during 2020 and two more this year.
Mayor Tim Theaker has issued a proclamation, proclaiming May 9 – 15, 2021 as Police Week and May 15, 2021 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,” Porch said.
As a reminder, flags on all federal buildings will again fly at half-staff on May 15, commemorating Police Officers Memorial Day.
In 1994, President Bill 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 24,280 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,” Porch said. “Like those in our armed services, our fallen law enforcement officers died while protecting the lives and freedoms of others.”
