Honoring the Fallen – Thousands Visit Washington, DC for National Police Week and the annual Candlelight Vigil

Law enforcement officers, supporters and survivors from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. on the National Mall to honor the fallen who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty at the 35th annual Candlelight Vigil. 

Held every May 13th each year, the Candlelight Vigil is a solemn tribute to the men and women who were killed in the line of duty, while also paying respect to loved ones and their families. The Vigil is a major part of National Police Week events, held every May, bringing thousands of law enforcement, families, survivors and supporters to the Nation’s Capital.

During the Vigil, put on by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the names of 556 officers – including 224 who were killed during 2022, plus another 332 who died in previous years, many of their stories of sacrifice lost to history until now – were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Currently, there are 23,785 names engraved on the Memorial. The full Roll Call of Heroes list can be found by visiting nleomf.org and searching Roll Call of Heroes.

The names of these brave heroes were read by high-ranking government officials and law enforcement leaders at the Vigil, in front of a crowd of over 45,000 people on the National Mall in DC. 

Earlier in the week, the National Police Dog Foundation held their annual National Police K-9 Memorial Service at the National Law Enforcement Memorial, which included a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the memory of fallen police K-9’s who gave their lives in the line of duty.

It continues to be a busy time for the National Law Enforcement Museum, with thousands visiting the building during National Police Week festivities. With summer right around the corner, there are plenty of programs, exhibits and collections to engage visitors of all ages that help tell the vibrant story of American law enforcement.

Highlights include:

• Service and Sacrifice –– a transformational film experience, which plays at the top of every hour in the museum’s theatre, explores the soul and purpose of law enforcement officers and their families, and features a diverse group of officers serving different roles from around the United States.
• Patrol driving simulator, the only one of its kind in the country that is not housed in a police training academy.
• Decision-making simulator, gives visitors an exhilarating look into the significant challenges our law enforcement professionals are faced with every day.
• True Crime Scavenger Hunts: Become the detective that solves the case with the Museum’s newest educational program. Using the museum’s interactive exhibits, visitors solve a series of clues to uncover the verdict and legacy of a key case in American Law Enforcement history.
• Walking the Beat Guided Tours: Presidential Assassinations, a walking tour through the streets of Washington, DC, focuses on the rise of federal law enforcement as a result of both successful assassinations and assassination attempts.
• Tours and special programs: Daily Museum highlights tours are available on general admission days led by the museum’s resident law enforcement museum guides. Educational workshops are available for groups, including Forensic Pathology 101 and CSI Crash Course.

Individual and group tickets are available and kids under 12 receive free admission! You can purchase tickets here.