WASHINGTON — Hundreds of law enforcement officers and families who lost loved ones in the line of duty gathered Saturday evening at the National Mall to honor those in uniform that made the ultimate sacrifice.
The 35th Annual Candlelight Vigil is just one of several events planned for National Police Week 2023 in Washington, D.C.
This year the names of 556 U.S. law enforcement officers that have died in the line of duty have been added to the National Law Enforcement Officers memorial, bringing the total number of names to 23,785.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland started the roll call that included federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement officers.
Outgoing D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee was among the special guests that honored his fellow officers.
"When a law enforcement officer steps out to protect a community, the family steps out with them," said the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas during his brief comments.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's CEO, Marcia Ferranto, says the candlelight vigil is a reminder to families across the country that they are not alone as they mourn the loss of their family members.
"Families take comfort in that, they know that their loss is one that we are committed to make sure that the sacrifice is never forgotten," she told WUSA9.
"I know exactly what everyone is going through here, and so does she," said Alexandria Tipton who attended the ceremony with her eight-year-old daughter Kamryn Chandler.
Kamryn's father, Virginia police officer Michael Chandler, 29, was shot and killed while performing a welfare check at a vacant home in Big Stone Gap in November of 2021
"He was the best. Top number one, the best, and I want everyone to remember that I know for a fact that this is what he loved to do," Tipton told WUSA9.
Kamryn says she remembers her father with one simple word, "love."
The number of line-of-duty deaths dropped 64% during 2022 compared to 2021 due to the significant reduction in COVID-19 related deaths, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
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