Peace Officers Memorial Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
The White House’s 2026 proclamation states that law authorizes 15 May of each year as Peace Officers Memorial Day.
About Peace Officers Memorial Day
Peace Officers Memorial Day is a United States observance associated with May 15. Under 36 U.S.C. §136, the president is requested to proclaim the date in honor of federal, state and local peace officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
It is connected to Police Week, but the date of the day and the week’s start and end are separate calendar rules. The designation does not automatically give all employees a paid holiday.
Why Peace Officers Memorial Day matters
The observance recognizes service, death and disabling injury and makes space for families and colleagues to remember individuals. Public tributes should not publish private family stories or identifying details without permission.
Descriptions can acknowledge that community views about policing vary while keeping the memorial’s statutory meaning and legal facts accurate.
History of Peace Officers Memorial Day
Public Law 87-726 of October 1, 1962 is the historical joint resolution behind Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week. The modern 36 U.S.C. §136 codification contains the May 15 proclamation and half-staff flag provisions.
The White House’s May 2026 proclamation separated May 15, 2026 as the memorial day from May 10–16, 2026 as Police Week. Those exact week dates must not be reused for every year.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
United States Congress
Public Law 87-726; 36 U.S.C. §136
U.S. executive branch and local memorial organizers
Annual proclamation and voluntary ceremonies documented in 2026 White House notice.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe Peace Officers Memorial Day
Read the official law or current presidential proclamation for wording and dates.
Attend a public memorial where organizers and families welcome visitors.
Learn about support services for bereaved families without requesting private details.
Confirm any current-year local Police Week ceremony schedule directly with its organizer.
Peace Officers Memorial Day Facts
Peace Officers Memorial Day is designated for May 15.
The original related congressional resolution dates to 1962.
36 U.S.C. §136 covers annual proclamation and flag customs.
Police Week is associated with the week that includes May 15 and varies by year.
Peace Officers Memorial Day Messages
May families and colleagues be supported in remembrance.
Remember individuals without compromising their loved ones’ privacy.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
U.S. House Office of Law Revision Counsel — 36 USC §136 (opens in a new tab)
White House — 2026 Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week proclamation (opens in a new tab)
White House — Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Government Executive
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Peace Officers Memorial Day?
15 May The documented recurrence rule is: 15 May.
Does Peace Officers Memorial Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Peace Officers Memorial Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Peace Officers Memorial Day?
The reviewed sources identify United States Congress as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as U.S. executive branch and local memorial organizers.
Is Peace Officers Memorial Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-08.
When is Peace Officers Memorial Day?
May 15 every year under the U.S. federal memorial observance.
Is it the same as National Police Week?
No. The memorial day is May 15; Police Week is a related week-long observance.
Does federal law make it a paid holiday?
Section 136 provides observance and proclamation guidance, not a new universal paid day off.
Should family information be shared publicly?
Only with appropriate consent; public memorial information is separate from private identifying details.
Other observances on May 15
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