Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, recognized on May 14 the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers in honor of National Police Week.
National Police Week is observed each year to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of law enforcement across the country. The week serves as a reminder of the risks officers face daily and honors those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
“Serving as a sworn law enforcement officer is among the greatest callings in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “All of us at the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office consider it a privilege to work with the valiant men and women of law enforcement who serve our communities with honor, integrity, and bravery. National Police Week reminds us that behind every badge is a story of service, sacrifice, and family. To those brave officers in uniform, I say thank you for risking your life, wellbeing, and security to keep the rest of us safe. To the families of the fallen heroes who paid the ultimate price, we grieve your tragic loss and renew our commitment to supporting law enforcement each and every day and to continuing to fight the good fight on behalf of the people of the district that we serve.”
President John F. Kennedy established Peace Officers Memorial Day in 1962 by proclamation on May 15 each year; since then, National Police Week has been observed during this time.
This week also saw 363 officers killed in duty added to the wall at Washington D.C.’s National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during its annual Candlelight Vigil ceremony—the 38th such event—including Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew who served ten years before being killed on April 25, 2026; he is survived by his wife and three children.
Further information about National Police Week can be found at www.policeweek.org.
