PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland Police Department will recognize National Police Week from May 12 through May 18, honoring law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty while recognizing the service, sacrifice, and commitment of those who continue to protect their communities.
National Police Week is dedicated to honor, remembrance, and peer support, bringing together law enforcement officers, survivors, and citizens to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“Police Week is a time for our community and our profession to pause and reflect on the extraordinary dedication of our officers,” said Portland Police Chief Mark Dubois. “Every day, they answer the call with courage, professionalism, and a deep commitment to serving others, often in moments of great uncertainty and risk. Their work is not always seen, but it is always felt in the safety and strength of our community.”
Dubois said the week is also a solemn opportunity to remember Portland officers who died in service to the city.
“It is also a time to honor those who gave everything in service to others. We remember with gratitude and respect the Portland Police Officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Their legacy lives on in our department, in our city, and in the enduring commitment of those who continue to serve in their name,” Dubois said.
The department said its officers serve a vital role in protecting the rights, safety, and freedoms of the Portland community. National Police Week, according to the department, gives the public an opportunity to better understand the responsibility, dedication, risk, and sacrifice that come with a career in law enforcement.
As Maine’s largest municipal law enforcement agency, the Portland Police Department said it remains proud of its close partnership with the community as it works to keep Portland safe, welcoming, and livable.
The department said its motto, “Protect and Serve,” is more than a slogan, calling it a daily commitment carried out with purpose and pride by the men and women of the agency.
In recognition of Police Week, a commemorative banner will be displayed across Congress Street. Several small events will also be held throughout the week to honor service, sacrifice, and the department’s partnership with the community.
National Police Week dates back to 1962, when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.
Today, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world travel to Washington, D.C., each year to take part in events honoring officers who died in the line of duty.
The National Police Week Memorial Service began in 1982 as a gathering of approximately 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement in Senate Park. Since then, the observance has grown into a series of events attracting thousands of survivors and law enforcement officers to the nation’s capital each year.
The National Peace Officers Memorial Service is sponsored by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police. It is part of a larger series of events that includes the Candlelight Vigil, sponsored by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, and seminars sponsored by Concerns of Police Survivors.
National Police Week draws between 25,000 and 40,000 attendees from law enforcement agencies across the United States and around the world. The Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge #1 also sponsors receptions each afternoon and evening during Police Week, open to all law enforcement personnel.
A list of activities and events taking place in Washington, D.C., is available at www.policeweek.org.
