The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) has formally announced that there are 345 names of U.S. law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty and will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 2025. The names will be engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during the month of April and properly dedicated during the 37th Annual Candlelight Vigil held on the National Mall between 4th and 7th streets in Washington, D.C., at 8 p.m. on May 13.
The 2025 Roll Call of Heroes features the names of official line-of-duty fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. This includes 148 federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2024, along with previous years where cases have been approved by NLEOMF’s research department. The total number of line-of-duty deaths in 2024 represents a 25% increase in officer deaths compared to 2023.
After thorough research and approval by the names committee, 197 officers who died in previous years — before 2024 — will also have their names inscribed this year. Their sacrifice is now being recognized after the Memorial Fund’s research staff confirmed the circumstances of their death and their record of law enforcement service.
“As we gather once more to honor our fallen officers, we’re reminded not only of the lives they gave but of the unwavering devotion that led them to serve,” NLEOMF CEO William Alexander says. “Their courage and selflessness continue to guide us — they embody the very spirit of law enforcement. This solemn moment is a time to grieve, to remember and to ensure that we carry their legacy forward with gratitude and purpose.”
Each May 13, during National Police Week, an estimated 30,000 people attend the Candlelight Vigil ceremony in Washington, D.C., including surviving family members, friends, law enforcement colleagues and others. The event brings people from across the country together to honor the officers and be surrounded by strength in remembering their service and ultimate sacrifice.
With these additions, there will now be 24,412 officers’ names engraved on the Memorial, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, federal law enforcement, and campus and military police agencies.
The engraving process starts with a lengthy stencil and proofing procedure followed by meticulous engraving and curing processes. Once the engraving and curing process is finished, the covers are removed, and the panel is completed. The utmost care is taken not only in vetting and authenticating each name but also to ensure that each is engraved on the Memorial to the degree that the integrity is forever maintained. The engraving process will begin with a brief ceremony on Monday morning, April 14, at 9:30 a.m. EST, and work is expected to be completed by the end of April.
The names of the 345 officers added to the National Memorial this year can be found at the Roll Call of Heroes, 2025. For a complete schedule of National Police Week events in Washington, D.C., visit www.LawMemorial.org/PoliceWeek.
Attention media: If you are interested in attending and covering this year’s Candlelight Vigil, all credentialing information can be found here. If more than one credential is needed, please submit the form on the landing page for each individual who will be present at the ceremony.
For information on the National Law Enforcement Memorial, please visit nleomf.org/memorial. For media inquiries, please contact Matt Lund at (443) 983-0215.
—www.NLEOMF.org—
