National Police Week Honors Law Enforcement Officers Nationwide

There has been a larger-than-usual police presence in the nation’s capital this week, not because of any heightened threat or security concerns but because it was National Police Week, a time set aside to honor and remember the ultimate sacrifices made by law enforcement officers across the country.

Congress had plenty of regular legislative business to focus on. Still, there seem to be certain things the members, Republicans, and Democrats, will make time for, no matter how full their schedule is, and visiting with law enforcement is one of them.

“Every one of them will lay their lives down for us to make sure we get home safe,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) in an interview Wednesday. “What I remind people is their family loves them just as much.”

Among the law enforcement Senator Mullin met with were Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane and three Sequoyah deputies. This was Lane's third time attending Police Week, where fallen officers from the previous year are honored, something he wanted his deputies to experience.

“Just to see the families of the fallen officers, to be there and support them,” Sheriff Lane said in an interview, “all the families that are here. It’s a pretty neat event—It’ll pull on your heartstrings when you get out there.”

Four Oklahoma officers who died in the line of duty in 2023 were added to the more than 24,000 already memorialized at the Fallen Officer Memorial.

“They are the heroes,” said Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK4). “Every day they do the hard work to keep us safe.”

Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (R-OK5) agrees: “I think it’s important to recognize how crucial law enforcement is to our communities — the safety and security of our communities.”

Once Police Week events wrapped up Wednesday, some of the peace officers played tourist Thursday, enjoying a tour of the Capitol and some low-stress time before heading back to their high-stress jobs.

“This is a great annual event,” said Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK3) in an interview. “to express our appreciation to law enforcement all over the country, at the local, county, state, federal level, they are our friends.”