King County Council declares May 13-19 National Police Week

Photo courtesy King County

King County Councilmembers are joined by King County Sheriff Steve Strachan as the Council declared May 13-19 Police Week in King County.

The Metropolitan King County Council joined municipalities across America in proclaiming May 13-19 as Police Week. The proclamation also recognized those men and women who have fallen in the line of duty

“I am proud to recognize our law enforcement officers. These dedicated men and women lay their lives on the line every day to protect public safety,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson. “As a community, we are forever grateful to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe.”

“Since 1853, the King County Sheriff’s Office has had 15 members killed in the line of duty.” stated King County Sheriff Steve Strachan. “Every day we remember the sacrifices that they and their families made for their community that we continue to serve in their honor.”

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. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

There are approximately 900,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States, and over 3,100 officers in King County including the dedicated members of the King County Sheriff’s Department; since the first recorded death in 1791, almost 20,000 law enforcement officers in the United States have died in the line of duty.

15 King County Sheriffs Deputies are among the 94 members of law enforcement in King County who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The names of these dedicated local public servants are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C as well as The Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial in Olympia.

New names of fallen heroes are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this spring, including 163 officers killed in 2011 and 199 officers killed in previous years. 

Three names were added to the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial in Olympia on May 4; Pierce County Deputy Shandon Wright, Mount Rainier National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson and Washington State Trooper Tony Radulescu.