WASHINGTON — Families, legislation enforcement leaders and officers gathered on the U.S. Capitol on May 15 for the forty fifth annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service, a solemn ceremony honoring fallen legislation enforcement officers and the family members they left behind.
May 15 is acknowledged as Peace Officers Memorial Day, established after President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 proclamation designating the date and the encircling week as a time to honor officers killed within the line of obligation.
Glenda Lehman, nationwide president of the Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary, opened the service by recognizing the households, colleagues and communities impacted by line-of-duty deaths.
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“We know that this is not an easy day,” Lehman stated. “We know that you carry a weight that words can never fully lift.”
This yr’s National Police Week observances included the addition of 363 names to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, together with 109 officers who died within the line of obligation in 2025 and 254 officers whose sacrifices have been confirmed from earlier years.
The ceremony additionally featured a efficiency from nation music artist Thomas Mac, whose tune “Fighting for America” paid tribute to navy members, first responders and legislation enforcement officers who danger their lives in service to others.
Vice President JD Vance delivered the keynote handle, telling surviving households that their family members’ sacrifices wouldn’t be forgotten.
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“It is the greatest honor that I could possibly have as your vice president to come here and say to these beautiful families, ‘Thank you. And I’m sorry,’” Vance stated. “From the bottom of my heart, speaking for all the American people — Democrat, Republican and independent — we love you. We’re grateful to you.”
Highlighting fallen officers’ tales
Throughout his remarks, Vance highlighted a number of officers killed within the line of obligation over the previous yr.
He spoke about Lorain, Ohio, Officer Phillip Wagner, an eight-year legislation enforcement veteran and Marine Corps veteran who was killed throughout what Vance described as a “cowardly ambush attack” in July 2024.
Wagner and one other officer have been sitting in a patrol automobile when a gunman opened hearth. A 3rd responding officer was additionally ambushed. Wagner later died from his accidents.
“He did nothing other than do his job and a coward opened fire on him,” Vance stated.
Lorain police Officer Phillip C. Wagner, 35, had been flown to a trauma heart after the assault Wednesday afternoon within the metropolis west of Cleveland, a police assertion stated. It stated he died surrounded by household at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.
Officer Down Memorial Page
Vance additionally honored Maui County Police Officer Suzanne O, who was killed whereas responding to reviews of an armed suspect in August 2024. He famous that she had beforehand been acknowledged for her response efforts in the course of the 2023 Hawaii wildfires.
“She laid down her life in defense of the people that she loved and served every single day,” Vance stated.
Officer Down Memorial Page
The vice chairman additionally acknowledged three Pennsylvania officers — Detective Mark Baker, Detective Isaiah Emanizer and Detective Sgt. Cody Becker of the Northern York County Regional Police Department — who have been killed whereas serving an arrest warrant in September 2024.
Vance stated the suspect ambushed the officers whereas they tried to guard a girl who had been threatened and stalked.
“These officers decided to do something about it,” Vance stated. “When they moved to protect her and carry out their duty, they were met with a brutal ambush from this coward.”
Across the three officers, Vance famous they represented practically 60 years of legislation enforcement expertise.
“When I look at these white chairs here in the front rows, what I see is dozens of stories,” he stated. “Dozens of brave people, dozens of family members.”
Detectives Mark Baker, Isaiah Emenheiser and Cody Becker
Officer Down Memorial Page
“But I want you to know, from the entire United States of America, from our fellow citizens and the family members of all American people, we love you. We’re thankful for you. We’re sorry for what you sacrificed, but we will never forget what your officer laid down. And every day, we have something that we can do. We can’t repay the sacrifice, but we can honor that sacrifice by making this country safer and stronger and more secure for the people that they served, by living up to what they sacrificed their lives for.”
Vance discusses crime, officer security and federal coverage
Vance additionally used the speech to debate the Trump administration’s strategy to crime and policing, pledging continued assist for legislation enforcement companies.
“In the Trump administration, we have made progress in ending the epidemic of senseless violence against our men and women in uniform,” Vance stated.
He cited statistics displaying line-of-duty deaths had reached what he described as “their lowest level in 80 years” in 2025 and pointed to nationwide declines in violent crime classes, together with murders, robberies and aggravated assaults.
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Vance attributed these declines to adjustments in federal insurance policies and border enforcement efforts.
“We crushed the criminal cartels and halted the tide of narcotics and migrant crime flooding across our borders,” he stated.
The vice chairman additionally criticized earlier federal oversight of police departments, saying the administration had “stopped handcuffing the police and started handcuffing more violent criminals.”
He additionally highlighted administration initiatives affecting legislation enforcement officers, together with extra time tax insurance policies, funding for native policing grants and assist for packages such because the Byrne JAG and COPS grants.
“Our attitude is very simple,” Vance stated. “You support us, so you deserve a government that supports you every single day.”
The ceremony concluded with continued tributes to fallen officers and requires officers presently serving to proceed honoring their legacy by service and management.
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