STATEMENT OF NATIONAL PRESIDENT PATRICK YOES ON THE 2020 NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS’ MEMORIAL SERVICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: TIM RICHARDSON
18 MARCH 2020 (202) 547-8189
It is with great regret that, for the first time in the event’s history, the Fraternal Order of Police and its Auxiliary will be unable to host the 39th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service in Washington, D.C. due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was a difficult one, but we believe it is the right one.
We are consulting with the Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) and other stakeholder groups to develop a fitting tribute to honor the families of the fallen for the 2019 calendar year and will determine the best path forward after this crisis subsides.
The National FOP and the Memorial Committee will undertake an effort to have a meaningful and respectful media tribute to our fallen heroes on May 15th, National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day.
I am saddened that we cannot come together this year to grieve with our survivor families and draw strength from one another on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, but given the national crisis we must, as we always have, put the safety of the public first.
When our nation recovers from this pandemic, we are committed to working with the various stakeholders to determine how to best provide families and colleagues who have lost their loved ones in the line of duty the opportunity to honor the sacrifices made by our fallen heroes in the way we have done over the last 39 years.