Thousands come together to honor fallen officers during National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Thousands of of law enforcement descended on the west front of the U.S. Capitol Thursday to honor fallen officers during the annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service.

The service, now in its 44th year, has become the cornerstone ceremony of National Police Week, which consists of remembrance services across the nation’s capital that pay tribute to the local, state, and federal officers who died in the line of duty.

“Each year we gather on a sacred ground to reflect, to grieve, and to celebrate the lives of those who answered the call to serve,” said Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police during the service.

Police from agencies across the nation came to the service along with of the Trump istration including Vice President JD Vance. He promised that the officers will never be forgotten.

“That is our promise, our sacred obligation to never forget, to never allow the sacrifice of our fallen officers to be met with silence or allow their courage to be met with indifference,” said the vice president.

The names of 232 officers who were killed while serving their communities were read aloud during the service.

A song to honor fallen Topeka, Kan. police officers Jeffrey Atherly and Corporal David Gogian was also played. It was written and performed by one of their colleagues, Sergeant Jayme Greene.

“God made me good at two things,” Green said. “He made me a good cop, and he made me a singer and this is the way to take those two gifts and take those two blessings that I have and kind of share them with the world and share them with everybody else here that has also lost somebody.”

Copyright 2025 Gray DC. All rights reserved.