During National Police Week, we pay tribute to all law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. And while we reflect on those we have lost, we should remember that losing a law enforcement officer in the line of duty affects many people in the process—family, friends, coworkers, as well as the community at large. I ask that you take a moment to honor those who have lost a loved one as well.

As the director of Law Enforcement and Investigations, I am proud of the dedicated service of our law enforcement officers, agents and administrative professionals as they ensure the safety of those who visit National Forest System lands.

I am proud every day to see the way our officers work with our communities, approaching each in the way best suited to the areas we serve. Our officers live in the communities where they work. They are active members of those communities, raising families, sending children to schools and supporting the economy.

The last few years have been challenging for those in law enforcement. In addition to the slow recovery from the global pandemic, events around the country, in both urban and rural communities, have highlighted the importance of building collaborative relationships between agencies with law enforcement responsibilities and the public we serve.

Additionally, I am proud of our dedication to our law enforcement core values: honor, commitment and courage. Officers demonstrate those values in service to the public: engaging with forest and grassland visitors to ensure they feel welcome and safe, visiting local schools to meet young people and, yes, following up on reports of crime.

Yet this week, we focus on those we lost. Eight Forest Service officers have been killed serving our agency: Jason Crisp, Christopher Upton, Kristine Fairbanks, Michael Staples, Stephen Bowman, Brent Jacobson, Harmon Schwoob and Rudolph E. Mellenthin. These eight officers and K-9 Maros are recognized at the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial in Washington, D.C. Information about each officer can be accessed online at U.S. Forest Service Fallen Officers.

National Police Week dates to 1962, when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation that designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. The remembrance brings tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world to Washington, D.C., to participate in events honoring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

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