Thousands of officers, families, and supporters flooded Washington, D.C. this week to honor 363 fallen law enforcement heroes during National Police Week 2026. From the candlelight vigil on the National Mall to local ceremonies in Grand Junction, communities paused to remember those who never made it home. The week wrapped up with a powerful message that resonated coast to coast.

Candlelight Vigil Lights Up National Mall for Fallen Officers

The 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil became the emotional heartbeat of Police Week 2026. Over 300 names of fallen law enforcement officers were read during the 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. The ceremony included the names of 109 officers who were killed in the line of duty last year.

During the annual vigil, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke about the lasting impact of supporting families as 363 fallen officers were honored, including 109 killed in 2025. The ceremony drew thousands carrying flickering candles into the spring night.

In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week. That tradition continues to draw families and badge holders together every year.

Mesa County Pays Tribute to Hometown Heroes

Out in Grand Junction, Colorado, local agencies held their own solemn ceremony. The Grand Junction Police Department, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, and Colorado State Patrol gathered to remember officers who gave everything.

John Ferguson, a police motor technician with the Grand Junction Police Department, captured the spirit of the week perfectly.

“We’re here for the people. We’re here for our community members, which we’re members of as well. Working 24 hours a day, shift work weekends, day in and day out. And we’re here to ultimately do what we need to do for our community members. And sometimes, unfortunately, it costs us our lives.”

Mesa County remembered five officers who died serving their communities. Their stories span more than a century of dedication.

Deputy Edward Innes was the first Mesa County law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty. The date was September 26, 1906, when Geroge McGarvey escaped from a jail truck. His sacrifice still echoes through the agency more than a century later.

On that February day, Geer was responding to a call about a man carrying a gun near Pear Park when he was shot and killed by a 17-year-old trying to evade arrest. Every year on February 8 at 11:15 a.m., radio channels across Mesa County go silent in his memory.

FBI Numbers Show Mixed Picture for Officer Safety

Fresh data dropped right in the middle of Police Week. The numbers tell a story of progress and pain.

In 2025, there were 53 law enforcement officers killed in felony acts, and all but 10 of them died from gunshot wounds. In 2024, by comparison, there were 64 law enforcement officers feloniously killed. That marks the lowest count since 2020.

But the assault numbers paint a different picture.

• 90,178 total assaults on officers reported in 2025
• 13.8 assaults per 100 officers, the highest rate in a decade
• 445 officers were assaulted and injured by firearms
• 49 offenders identified in the felonious killings

Assaults against police officers climbed to their highest rate in a decade in 2025, even as fatal line‑of‑duty attacks declined, FBI findings show. Officers are being attacked more often, even as fewer die in the line of duty.

Police Unity Tour Marks 30 Years of Remembrance

The Police Unity Tour hit a major milestone this year. Riders from across the country pedaled into the nation’s capital with a single purpose.

An estimated 2,600 riders arrived at the Memorial as part of the annual ride-in from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. on May 12, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). The tour, held during National Police Week, brings together riders, motor officers and support personnel from across the country to honor officers who died in the line of duty. This year, the Police Unity Tour presented a $2.5 million donation to the NLEOMF, continuing its mission to support the Memorial and preserve the stories of fallen officers.

Their motto says it all: “We Ride For Those Who Died.”

The week also included a touching tribute to four-legged heroes. National Police Week 2026: Fallen K-9s Honored During Memorial. Handlers placed roses for 23 police K‑9s killed in the line of duty last year during a solemn Police Week ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

How Communities Are Showing Their Support

From coast to coast, towns and cities lit up blue. National Police Week 2026 kicked off with Raleigh landmarks like the WRAL tower and PNC Tower turning blue to honor fallen law enforcement officers. National Police Week 2026 runs Sunday, May 10, through Saturday, May 16, and officers are already being honored in the Triangle.

Sports teams stepped up too. The Washington Nationals hosted Police Week games against the Baltimore Orioles, with each ticket donating $5 to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Ways you can honor fallen officers in your own community:

1. Visit a local memorial or wall of honor near you
2. Light a candle in remembrance at home
3. Thank an officer you meet during your daily routine
4. Donate to support survivor families through trusted organizations
5. Share stories of fallen heroes on social media

As candles burned low on the National Mall this week, the message rang clear across America. Behind every badge is a person, a family, and a community that depended on them. Their sacrifices remind us that freedom and safety carry a real cost paid by ordinary men and women who chose to wear the uniform. What do you think about how your community honors its fallen officers? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on social media using #PoliceWeek2026 to keep their memory alive.