U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following announcement on May 10.
In honor of National Police Week, John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today recognized the service of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
“All of us at the U.S. Attorney’s Office consider it a privilege to work with the brave men and women who serve our communities with honor and integrity,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “National Police Week presents a special opportunity to acknowledge their courage and sacrifice. To them, I say thank you for your valor and commitment to justice.”
“This week was a time to honor our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am constantly inspired by the extraordinary courage and dedication with which members of law enforcement act each day, putting their lives on the line to make our communities safer. To members of law enforcement and your families: we know that not a single day, nor a single week, was enough to recognize your service and sacrifice. On behalf of the entire Department of Justice, you have our unwavering support and eternal gratitude.”
While many National Police Week events have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund will host a virtual Candlelight Vigil on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. CDT. During the vigil, the names of fallen officers who are being added to the wall of the National Law Enforcement Memorial will be read aloud. The vigil can be viewed live on YouTube here.
According to 2020 statistics reported by the FBI, 46 on-duty law enforcement officers nationwide died as a result of felonious acts, and 47 died in accidents. One of the officers killed in an on-duty auto accident was Terrence Engle, Chief of the Hampton, Ill., Police Department.
Additionally, hundreds more law enforcement personnel succumbed to COVID-19 in 2020 while bravely protecting their communities. At least eight of those individuals served in the Northern District of Illinois:
- Marco DiFranco, Chicago Police Department
- Clifford Martin, Chicago Police Department
- Ronald Newman, Chicago Police Department
- Titus Moore, Chicago Police Department
- Sheila Rivera, Cook County Sheriff’s Office
- Richard O’Brien, Cook County Sheriff’s Office
- Antoine P. Jones, Cook County Sheriff’s Office
- Jose P. Marquez, Cook County Sheriff’s Office
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as the annual Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week in which that date falls as National Police Week.
Original source can be found here.