After National Police Week in-person events were postponed in May 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic restrictions, law enforcement officers, supporters and survivors from across the country were finally able to gather in our nation’s capital to honor the fallen and bring comfort to their families during National Police Weekend, held October 13–17. 

In 2020, 307 officers — 135 who were killed in 2019, plus 172 who died in previous years — were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. This year, another 394 officers — 295 who were killed in 2020 (182 of those fatalities are related to COVID-19), plus 99 who died in previous years — were added to the memorial. All 701 officers’ names were read by government and law enforcement leaders during the Candlelight Vigil on October 14, hosted by the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) on the National Mall. On October 16, the National Fraternal Order of Police and the National Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary hosted the annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service on the west front lawn of the U.S. Capitol, where family members of the fallen were able to place a flower in the memorial wreath as their loved ones’ names were read. Following the service, a wreath-laying ceremony took place at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

Other events included the Police Unity Tour, the four-day, 300-mile bicycle ride from New Jersey to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness of fallen officers and funds for the memorial, and the National Police Survivors Conference held by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), which offers support and services for surviving family members, friends and co-workers of officers who have died in the line of duty.