Memorial Honors Minnesota’s Fallen Peace Officers

In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress, National Police Week pays special recognition to law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. 

National Police Week is a collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to honoring America’s law enforcement community. On May 15, the Minnesota law enforcement community honored and remembered its fallen officers and their families with a 24-hour vigil at the memorial site located on the grounds of the State Capitol.

Walking the line, May 15, 2023

Officers recognized during ceremony, vigil

The event is hosted by Minnesota’s Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA), with municipal police officers, county deputies, state troopers, and officers from other law enforcement agencies from around the state providing an honor guard. LEMA is also the organization that assists departments and family members after an officer has died in the line of duty.  

Two long-standing rituals and traditions take place during the ceremony — officers ”standing guard” and officers “walking the line” (where a peace officer continually walks the thin blue line that represents law enforcement standing between the public and chaos). As officers end their vigil, they announce a fallen officer’s name and ring a bell three times.

Standing guard, May 15, 2023

The Minnesota Peace Officers Memorial is located at the southeastern corner of the mall, near the corner of Wabasha Street and 12th Street East. It consists of a series of tall white pillars that face downtown. A lighted thin blue line runs the steps through the pillars. The “thin blue line” is a well-known term that refers to the concept of the police as the line which keeps society from descending into violent chaos. When an officer is killed, the line is temporarily broken. The thin blue line at the memorial ends at a beautiful block of black marble which is engraved, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9.”

Watch highlights from a past MN LEMA memorial service. For more information on the services and the law enforcement memorial, visit the LEMA website.  

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at tstille@lmc.org or (651) 215-4051. 

In the meantime, stay safe!    

Tracy