It was an honor for us to attend the 2018 National Police Week events held in Washington DC this past May. Volunteer representatives from our team took part in memorials and conference sessions throughout the week, advocating on key issues like Police safety, recruitment and training.
American Police Officers Alliance‘s Board Members canvassed the event, taking part in commemorative sessions like the National Police Survivors Conference and C.O.P.S. Kids/Teens and the 1st Annual Police K-9 Memorial Service. This is an important event where our leaders not only take part in events, but actively engage police and families of those who serve to learn about what issues rise to the top.
In addition, our volunteers took to the streets of the conference to conduct surveys to help understand perceptions towards police and the issues facing them across America in their communities. These insights produced by these surveys help shape how APOA engages leaders and politicians to support their needs at various levels of government.
This mid-term election season is especially critical as we seek to ensure our Nation’s Police are represented by public officials who understand and support the issues impacting them today.
What is National Police Week?
National Police Week (NPW) held May 11 – 17 each year in Washington, D.C. honors the service and sacrifice of U.S. law enforcement officers. On May 11 and 12, surviving families and co-workers begin arriving in Washington, D.C. for the week-long events.
Check out the gallery below to get a glimpse into the events attended by APOA:
History of National Police Week
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed Public Law 87-726 designating May 15 as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, and the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. The law was amended by the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Public Law 103-322, signed by President Bill Clinton, directing that the flag of the United States be displayed at half-staff on all government buildings on May 15 each year. While the actual dates change from year to year, National Police Week is always the calendar week, beginning on Sunday, which includes May 15.
