Fallen law enforcement officers honored during 2022 Police Week

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., May 15, 2022 – County Council members unanimously passed Resolution 22-032, recognizing May 11 – 17, 2022, as National Law Enforcement Officers Week and May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in Snohomish County.

Councilman Jared Mead (D-Mill Creek) introduced the motion which was seconded by Councilwoman Stephanie Wright (D-Lynnwood). All council members were present for the meeting.

“We publicly salute the service of law enforcement officers in our community and in communities across the nation, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as those who continue to face the daily obstacles and dangers while protecting those who live, work, and play in Snohomish County from harm,” the resolution reads.

President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation in 1962 designating May 15^th as Police Officers Memorial Day and the week in which the date falls as Police Week.

For 34 years, the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund has hosted an annual candlelight vigil in Washington D.C., honoring the service and sacrifice of all officers who died in the line of duty.

In 2021, 458 federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement officers died in the line-of-duty – an increase of 55% from 2020 and is the highest total line-of-duty officer deaths since 1930 when there were 312 fatalities. According to Behind the Badge Foundation, six law enforcement officers in Washington state died last year.

In a Facebook post on May 13, the county released the following statement regarding its resolution:

“We publicly salute the service of law enforcement officers in our community and in communities across the nation, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as those who continue to face the daily obstacles and dangers while protecting those who live, work, and play in Snohomish County from harm.”

A total of 619 law enforcement names were honored during the 34th Annual Candlelight Vigil in the nation’s capital on Friday including the following from Washington state:

• Jeremy Robert Brown, Clark County, Washington, S.O. 7/23/2021
• Reginald Bernard Thomas, King County, Washington, S.O. 9/7/2020
• Alexandra Brenneman Harris, Seattle, Washington, P.D. 6/13/2021
• Jon David Anderson, Spokane, Washington, P.D. 7/5/2019
• Gabriel Kyle Forrest, Washington State Department of Corrections 6/17/2021
• David Alan Christensen, Washington State Department of Corrections 12/29/2020
• Eric Thomas Gunderson, Washington State Patrol 9/26/2021