U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California issued the following announcement on May 10.
In honor of National Police Week, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, the week was observed Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 15, 2021.
“This week was a time to honor our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,” said Attorney General Garland. “I am constantly inspired by the extraordinary courage and dedication with which members of law enforcement act each day, putting their lives on the line to make our communities safer. To members of law enforcement and your families: we know that not a single day, nor a single week, is enough to recognize your service and sacrifice. On behalf of the entire Department of Justice, you have our unwavering support and eternal gratitude.”
“Our federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officers in the Southern District of California face harrowing situations day after day, yet they keep coming back to protect and serve. Some have even given their lives to do so,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Grossman. “I am grateful beyond words to our law enforcement partners for their extraordinary dedication, and the sacrifices that they and their families have made for our communities.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities that they have sworn to serve.
During the Roll Call of Heroes, a ceremony coordinated by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), more than 300 officers will be honored. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), of the law enforcement officers who died nationwide in the line of duty in 2020, nearly 60 percent succumbed to COVID-19.
Last year, the Southern District of California, which includes San Diego and Imperial counties, lost two officers who served with distinction and will be added to the memorial: Efren Coronel of El Centro Police Department, who contracted COVID in the line of duty, and Daniel G. Walters of the San Diego Police Department, who was lost during gunfire.
Additionally, according to statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 46 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts and 47 died in accidents in 2020. LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website.
The names of the 394 fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Thursday, May 13, 2021, during a Virtual Candlelight Vigil, which will be livestreamed to the public at 8 p.m. EDT. The Police Week in-person public events, originally scheduled for May, have been rescheduled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns to October 13-17, 2021. An in-person Candlelight Vigil event is scheduled for October 14, 2021.
Original source can be found here.