The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC is one of the newer memorials in the City. It was authorized by Congress in 1984, and dedicated in 1991.

Located at Judiciary Square, the Memorial honors all law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The names of the fallen officers are engraved on granite walls contained in the memorial. New names are added to the Memorial during a candlelight vigil during National Police Week in May. In 2008, National Police Week is May 11 – 17.

In addition to the walls with the names of fallen officers, the Law Enforcement Officer Memorial includes a reflecting pool and several lion statues sculpted in bronze by Raymond Kasky.

Here are photos of some of the statues. They were taken on a cold winter morning in January 2008.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial I (c) 2008 Patty Hankins

The quotation from Proverbs 28:1 beneath the sculpture reads The Wicked Flee When No Man Pursueth But the Righteous Are Bold As A Lion

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial II (c) 2008 Patty Hankins

The quotation by Tacitus beneath the lioness reads In Valor There is Hope

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial III (c) 2008 Patty Hankins

The quotation beneath this sculpture reads It Is Not How These Officers Died That Made Them Heroes It Is How They Lived is by Vivan Eny, Survivor.

The National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial is located at Judiciary Square (between 4th and 5th Streets NW and D and F Streets, NW) in Washington, DC. There is limited street parking in the area. The easiest way to see the Memorial is to take the DC Metro’s Red Line to the Judiciary Square Station.

If you’ve never seen the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, it’s definitely worth a visit.