National Police Week

National Police Week occurs every May, and in 2024, we will commemorate it with live, in-person events. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund will hold ceremonies, including the 36th Annual Candlelight Vigil, to honor the fallen officers whose names have recently been added to the Memorial.

The 36th Annual Candlelight Vigil will be held on Monday, May 13.

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 in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those 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.(https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/)

Our very own Carilion Clinic Police and Security Services Department is a fully empowered state law enforcement agency. We are a member agency to two police academies in the Commonwealth. They are the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy, located in Salem Virginia, and New River Criminal Justice Training Academy, located in Dublin, Virginia. We are very fortunate to have our very own Police Department at Carilion Clinic.

The agency employs many sworn police officers, who provide law enforcement services to the Carilion Clinic campus as well as our Regional Hospitals. Our officers receive on-going training to maintain proficiency in their daily duties.

The department also employs more than 30 security officers who handle non-police tasks. Security Officers are required to be certified through both the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the International Association of Healthcare Safety and Security (IAHSS) training curriculum. Security Officers provide services such as motor vehicle assistance, managing patients valuables, building security and staffing information areas during the evening and nighttime hours.

Our primary goal is to provide a safe environment for the Carilion Clinic community. Protecting life and property, deterring and investigating crime and maintaining public order are among our top priorities.

However, no police agency can be effective without help from the community it serves. Our department’s success relies, in part, on the involvement of the hospital and college communities. We encourage all community partners to become aware of crime prevention measures and to participate in our crime prevention educational offerings. Through a collaborative effort, we hope to make your experience at Carilion a safe and enjoyable one.

Please take some time this week and thank and honor our Police Officers for their dedication and commitment to your safety and well being.