Public Invited to Honor Police, Correctional Officers at Events

Alexandrians are invited to honor men and women in uniform who serve the city as police or correctional officers at three events in May.

National Correctional Officers and Employees Week runs from May 5 through 11, said Alexandria Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Amy Bertsch. National Police Week is from May 12 through 18.

“I think with the recent events, especially in Boston and the officer Laboy shooting, the public support has just been tremendous,” Bertsch said. “And at the same time, on one should wait for a tragedy to occur to honor these officers.”

• See 'Remarkable' Officer Laboy Alive Following Shooting

There will be a ceremony and honor guard competition at National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at Judiciary Square in Washington at 10 a.m. May 4. The Corrections Chiefs Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is sponsoring the ceremony, and Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, his staff and the Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard will attend to pay tribute to the correctional professionals who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Following the wreath laying ceremony, Alexandria’s Honor Guard team will take part in a drill competition against other honor guard teams in the region. For more information, see council of governments public service announcement on YouTube here.

The city will also hold a wreath-laying ceremony at 1:30 p.m. May 6 at Waterfront Park, 1A Prince St. The Sheriff’s Office will join the Alexandria Police Department and the Alexandria Retired Police, Fire and Sheriff Association at the memorial marker. A combined honor guard of deputy sheriffs and police officers will present the colors, and Lawhorne will be among those officials sharing brief remarks about the significance of the memorial and National Correctional Officers Week.

There will also be a Alexandria Police and Sheriff Memorial Service from noon to 1 p.m. May 9, at First Baptist Church, 2932 King St. Lawhorne and the Sheriff’s Office will join the Police Department and the Alexandria Retired Police, Fire and Sheriff Association at the annual Alexandria Police and Sheriff Memorial Service as they honor the memory of their fallen comrades. Nineteen Alexandria law enforcement officers—18 police officers and one deputy sheriff—are known to have died in the line of duty.