In 1962, President John F. Kennedy declared May 15 as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day and next week as National Police Week. The purpose of the proclamation was to pay tribute to those law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and to voice our appreciation for all those who currently serve on the front lines of the battle against crime.

In 2021, the Denver Police Museum held a number of outside, socially distanced events to recognize our 72 fallen officers and the nearly 9,000 individuals who have served the City and County of Denver since the founding of the department in 1859.

LIGHTING OF THE DENVER CITY AND COUNTY BUILDING

A special thank you to the Denver City Office of Special Events for partnering with the Denver Police Museum to highlight National Police Week by lighting the Denver City and County Building blue May 8-15 2021. 

HONORING THE FALLEN

On Saturday, May 8, 2021, the Denver Police Museum honored those law enforcement officers who have given their lives in the performance of duty to the community.

The Museum held simultaneous socially distanced ceremonies at Crown Hill, Riverside, Mt. Olivet, Fairmount and Fort Logan. Volunteers from the Denver Police Museum were joined by family members of the fallen officers as well as active and retired Denver Police Department officers and command staff, the Denver Black Police Officer’s Organization, Denver Metro Scouts, Volunteers in Policing, and the FBI Denver Citizens Academy Alumni Association who visited fallen officer’s graves to lay a wreath and place a flag. 

SIGN CEREMONIES FOR FALLEN OFFICERS

The Denver Police Museum has undertaken a program to place memorial signs at the locations where fallen officers made the ultimate sacrifice.

During Police Week, the Museum unveiled two signs. On Monday, May 10, 2021 volunteers, retired and active officers and family members honored fallen officer, Jacob Brenner at 3142 Osage Street.

On Wednesday, May 12, 2021 fallen officer William Keating was honored with a memorial sign on 8th Avenue between Kalamath and Santa Fe Avenue. The Denver Police Museum would like to thank the International Police Association for their generous donation which paid for this memorial sign. 

DENVER POLICE MEMORIAL 2021

Each year during this week in May, we gather together to honor the 72 Denver Police Officers who have been killed in the line of duty. While the family and friends of those we’ve lost could not attend this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are forever kept in our hearts.