As communities across the nation observe National Police Week 2026, the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office is honoring the law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities.

National Police Week is being observed from Sunday, May 10 through Saturday, May 16, with Peace Officers Memorial Day recognized on Friday, May 15.

The annual observance was established in 1962 after President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and designated the week in which it falls as National Police Week.

The recognition was created through a joint resolution of Congress to honor officers who lost their lives in the line of duty while protecting others.

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell said five law enforcement officers from Sabine Parish have died in the line of duty over the past 60 years.

Those officers include Louisiana State Trooper Clarence Miller Jr., Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Detective Jimmy Kinney, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Leone, Many Police Officer Waymon Ferguson, and Zwolle Police Officer Howard Evans Jr.

According to the sheriff’s office, each of their names is permanently engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., where thousands of fallen officers from across the country are honored.

National officials recently announced that the names of 363 officers killed in the line of duty during the past year were added to the memorial wall. The year before, 345 names were added.

One of the most recognized events of National Police Week, the annual Candlelight Vigil, is scheduled to take place Wednesday night, May 13, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The vigil serves as a tribute to fallen officers and a time of remembrance for surviving family members, friends, and fellow law enforcement personnel.

Sheriff Mitchell encouraged residents to remember and honor the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers who dedicated their lives to protecting their communities.