The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) in Washington, D.C., has announced the opening of the application process for the 2023 National Officer Safety and Wellness Awards as part of its Destination Zero program.

NLEOMF is seeking information on innovative officer safety or wellness programs that are currently implemented for the physical and/or mental well-being of their officers. Over the years, the database of submitted safety and wellness programs has grown into a robust collection of ideas, innovations and solutions for agency leaders to use to build and improve on their own officer safety and wellness programs. Those agencies with outstanding programs that have proven to be beneficial will be acknowledged and personally presented with an award in a ceremony during National Police Weekend next fall in Washington, D.C.

Each year, the NLEOMF and its distinguished Selection Committee choose the best and most innovative programs in each category to receive the prestigious National Officer Safety and Wellness Award. The Destination Zero Program database of ideas and programs has grown over the years and recently expanded the Officer Wellness award category into two separate categories: General Wellness and Comprehensive Wellness. Other categories include General Officer Safety, Officer Traffic Safety and Comprehensive Safety.

Created in 2014, Destination Zero, an initiative of the NLEOMF, was designed to help agencies improve the health and safety of law enforcement officers across the country. The goal is two-fold: not only to recognize the most effective programs, but to share that information with others so that they may look at the potential benefits to their respective agency and drive the number of line-of-duty law enforcement deaths down to zero.

Those agencies interested in nominating their best practice officer safety and wellness programs for consideration can complete the DZ submission packet here. For questions regarding the Destination Zero National Officer Safety and Wellness Awards, please email Senior Program Manager Larry Cecchettini at lcecchettini@nleomf.org. New applications and agencies who have previously nominated their program must have their completed submission packets in by January 31, 2023.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The first pillar of this mission, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors the names of all the 24,067 officers who have died in the line of duty to date throughout U.S. history. Additionally, NLEOMF maintains and publishes comprehensive details on the circumstances surrounding official line-of-duty deaths. The Officer Safety and Wellness pillar uses that data, coupled with best-practice program models, to produce programming directed at solutions to improve survivability and enhance wellness. NLEOMF’s third pillar, the National Law Enforcement Museum (LawEnforcementMuseum.org) is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come.

Since 2014, the National Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Flower Fund has sent a floral arrangement to the funeral services of every officer who has been killed in the line of duty. This initiative, which has served as the cornerstone of the charity, has sent more than 2,000 arrangements on behalf of its members, costing over $500,000.

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