Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 4020 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: JULY 2016 by Jaclyn Barrientes T he light of more than 20,000 can- dles shone in the darkness of an evening on the National Mall in Washing- ton, DC, on May 13. The bearers of the light had come from all over the country, and around the world, to honor the protec- tors of this nation who made the ultimate sacrifice. A day that began with grey skies and light rainfall cleared just in time for the 28th Annual Candlelight Vigil, a ceremony by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to commemorate officers who died in the line of duty. As the sun went down behind the Washington Monument, the survivors of those killed in the line of duty were escorted by law enforcement officers who had volunteered – some many months in advance – to guide them to their seats in front of the stage. Other officers and sup- porters, along with their friends and families, filed through the gates. More than 20,000 names are engraved on the Me- morial walls, and 252 new names had just been added. They were the names of the 123 officers who had died in 2015, and 129 officers who had died in previous years but were recently discovered through research conducted by the Memorial Fund. “Every day the men and women in law enforcement services put themselves in harm’s way in order to se- cure our communities, to defend our values, and to make real the promise of lib- erty and justice for all,” U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said at the Vigil. “Tonight, as we come together, we celebrate the lives of more than 20,000 beautiful souls who made the ultimate sacrifice, and gave what President Lincoln called ‘the last full measure of devotion in the service of this nation and its people.’” The candles were lit, one by one, and an orange glow spread across Mall as the names of the 252 fallen of- ficers were read. Craig Floyd in his speech at the Vigil said, “Behind every name read here tonight, and on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, “are stories and memories that burn brightly, tonight and always.” The Vigil was just one of the events held in Washing- ton, DC, during National Police Week by the Memo- rial Fund. In addition, the National Officer Safely and Offi- cer Wellness Awards were given to various depart- ments throughout the coun- try who created programs to improve the health and safety of their law enforce- ment officers. On the same Celebrating the lives, the loved ones we’ve lost evening, the winners of the Officer of the Month Award were recognized at a special dinner. The Washington Nationals also took part in National Police Week with a special Law Enforcement Apprecia- tion game against the Miami Marlins on May 14. Tickets were offered at a discounted price, and mas- cot ‘Screech’ took photos with some members of the Police Unity Tour, an an- nual fundraising bicycle ride that benefits the Memorial Fund. Jaclyn Barrientes is the com- munications and digital media manager at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The Candlelight Vigil is a comforting and moving experience 6SHQGWLPHZLWK\RXUIHOORZRI¿FHUVZKRDUH H[SHULHQFLQJWKHVDPHJULHIIURPWKHORVVRID FRZRUNHU2XWGRRUDFWLYLWLHVFRXQVHOLQJVXSSRUWDQG WLPHDZD\IURPWKHVWUHVVRIDODZHQIRUFHPHQWFDUHHU KDYHSDUWLFLSDQWVFRPLQJEDFN\HDUDIWHU\HDU Co-Workers for Couples for Co-Workers DQG WKeLr 6pouse6LJQLfLFDQW 2WKer August 25-28 5HJLVWUDWLRQ'HDGOLQHLV-XO\ Co-Workers Retreat Co-Workers oQl\ 6eptePEer  - 2FtoEer  7KHVHUHWUHDWVDUH)5((DVWKHSULFH SDLGLVDOUHDG\WRRKLJK (Travel is at the expense of the participant.) Register at www.nationalcops.org Challenging Activities Relaxing Environment Peer Support 2016 C.O.P.S. Retreats for Co-Workers