[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 131, 115th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9611 of May 15, 2017

Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, 2017

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, we honor the men and
women of law enforcement who have been killed or disabled in the course
of serving our communities. Police officers are the thin blue line whose
sacrifices protect and serve us every day, and we pledge to support them
as they risk their lives to safeguard ours.
Last year, 118 officers died in the line of duty, and of those, 66 were
victims of malicious attacks. These attacks increased by nearly 40
percent from 2015. This must end. That is why one of my first actions
was to direct the Department of Justice to develop a strategy to better
prevent and prosecute crimes of violence against our Federal, State,
tribal, and local law enforcement officers.
In addition, my Administration will continue to further the efforts of
the Department of Justice to improve the lives of law enforcement
officers and their families. This includes supporting the Officer Safety
and Wellness Group, which improves officer safety on the job, and
accelerating the processing of benefits through the Public Safety
Officers' Benefits Program, which provides vital resources to the
families of fallen officers.
Our liberties depend on the rule of law, and that means supporting the
incredible men and women of law enforcement. By a joint resolution
approved October 1, 1962, as amended (76 Stat. 676), and by Public Law
103-322, as amended (36 U.S.C. 136 and 137), the President has been
authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each year as

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``Peace Officers Memorial Day'' and the week in which it falls as
``Police Week.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2017, as Peace Officers Memorial Day
and May 14 through May 20, 2017, as Police Week. In humble appreciation
of our hard-working law enforcement officers, Melania and I will light
the White House in blue on May 15. I call upon all Americans to observe
Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week with appropriate ceremonies
and activities. I also call on the Governors of the States and
Territories and officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of
the United States, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on
Peace Officers Memorial Day. I further encourage all Americans to
display the flag at half-staff from their homes and businesses on that
day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
first.
DONALD J. TRUMP