Police Heroes
Police heroes come in many forms. On the Police Heroes topic page, we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the mission to protect their communities.
After asking how officers handle bad days, a young boy sparked a nationwide effort delivering 4,500 stuffed rhinos to remind cops they’re not alone
From 1970s California to modern Florida, one sergeant’s career shows how leadership, training and culture shape what happens on the street
For many officers, the last sign-off isn’t just the end of a shift — it’s the moment a career, identity and sense of purpose collide
The annual National Police Week tradition raised $2.5 million in 2026 for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
This year’s honorees include 109 officers killed in the line of duty in 2025, along with 254 who died in previous years
Joshua Tibbetts had worked for the Maine Wardens Service since 2008; he was part of the Incident Management Team, search planning and unmanned aerial vehicle programs
Greenwood Police Officer D.J. Keller was a United States Army and National Guard veteran who served with the Greenwood Police Department for three years
Donors can use GoFundMe’s first responder hub to donate to help law enforcement families coping with loss, injury and long recoveries
President Donald Trump said his administration has prioritized public safety and supported tougher penalties for those who kill police officers
“Trust your dog” became a lasting lesson for Deputy Jared Hahn and K-9 Roxi, who was honored during the National Police K-9 Memorial Service
The names include 109 officers who died in the line of duty in 2025 and 254 officers whose sacrifices were confirmed from previous years
From the Candlelight Vigil to the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service, here’s what’s planned for National Police Week 2026
Officer McLaughlin credited his horse partner, Kelly, with helping close the distance on the fleeing suspect, who was already on lifetime parole for killing a livery cab driver during a botched robbery
Trooper Kevin Trainor was commuting home from his shift shortly before 2 a.m. when his cruiser was struck
Customs and Border Protection stated that Sean M. McDonough, 48, was participating in water training with the marine unit when he suffered a medical episode
Crittenden County Deputy Rick Coyle, a veteran officer and school resource officer, was wounded while serving guardianship paperwork
“I still see his face,” former N.Y. Jets player and current Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer Laveranues Coles said when he was in Charlotte to share his story with PAL youth
The White Settlement Police officers helped secure the woman, whose car was sinking into rapidly flowing waters, with a set of jumper cables until fire personnel arrived
Jefferson County Constable’s Reserve Deputy Heather Avery-Stutes was killed when a truck hit her cruiser as she directed traffic; she had served with the department for four years
Alphanso Talley has been charged with murder and attempted murder in the shooting that killed Officer John Bartholomew and severely wounded another officer
Baldwin Park Police responded after a victim was fatally shot; Officer Samuel Riveros was shot by the suspect during a standoff while working to warn bystanders of the danger
Officer John Bartholomew, 38, had served with the Chicago Police Department for ten years; the officer who remains hospitalized is 57 years old with 21 years of service
Oradell Officer Frank Stefano found the player didn’t have a pulse and immediately began CPR; he grabbed a defibrillator off the wall and shocked him twice, restoring his heartbeat
Officer Dallas Hinton, 25, had served the Thomasville Police Department for two years and was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran
National Police Week finds its roots in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed Proclamation 3466, designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day
A man inside a home shot at officers immediately as they arrived to perform a welfare check in Wister; LeFlore County Deputy Thomas “Walker” LeMay was killed in the shootout
A Washington Township officer on his first solo shift performed CPR on an unresponsive driver while fellow officers delivered multiple AED shocks after a crash
Landon Faulkner, 24, joined the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in 2022; in all, he served in law enforcement for nearly six years
Lt. Tyler Gaines intervened when a suspect resisted arrest, fought through TASER deployments and reached for a Hominy officer’s weapon
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