SUBJECT: KPD and Local FOP Invites Public to Annual Police Memorial Service
DATE: May 7th, 2024
GENERAL NARRATIVE
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th 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.
This year, National Police Week will take place from May 12th through 18th, 2024. Traditionally, the local Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Burgess-Mills Lodge #11 conducts a Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Kingsport Justice Center during National Police Week.
The service this year will be held on Monday, May 13th, 2024 at 3:00 PM at the Kingsport Police Department Law Enforcement Memorial and Eternal Flame, located on the corner of West Market and Clay Streets in Downtown Kingsport. As always, the department extends an open invitation to anyone who would like to join us as we remember and honor our local fallen officers, as well as all fallen officers throughout the nation.
The local Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Burgess-Mills Lodge #11 is named in honor of two of the Kingsport Police Department’s Fallen Officers, Patrolman Ira H. Burgess and Patrolman John E. Mills, who were tragically shot and killed in the line of duty in 1950 and 1940 respectively. Information regarding these and all of K.P.D.’s Fallen Officers can be found in the following link:
https://www.KingsportTN.gov/Police-Department/Our-Fallen-Officers/
The following inscription is found on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
“This Memorial is dedicated to all Law Enforcement Officers in the United States of America. Inscribed on these walls are the names of those men and women who died in the line of duty. It is not how these officers died that made them heroes. It is how they lived.”
Links to the National Police Week website and the Officer Down Memorial Page are provided below:
RELEASING OFFICER
Lieutenant Justin McConnell
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit
Office (423) 229-9499, Fax (423) 343-9749
JustinMcConnell@KingsportTN.gov
