WHEREAS, National Police Week is observed throughout the nation to honor the service and sacrifice of those law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty while protecting our communities and safeguarding our democracy; and

WHEREAS, 2024 marks the 27th anniversary of the of the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial which was dedicated to honor the memory of those Nevada Law Enforcement Officers that died in the service of the State of Nevada; and

WHEREAS, there are approximately 900,000 dedicated men and women law enforcement officers currently serving our communities nationwide, including 11,000 active law enforcement officers in Nevada, who face extraordinary risk and danger to preserve our freedom, safety, and security of others; and

WHEREAS, nearly 60,000 assaults against law enforcement officers were reported last year, resulting in approximately 15,000 injuries, and since the first recorded death in 1791, almost 24,000 law enforcement officers in the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice and been killed in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, since 1861, 157 Nevada Law Enforcement Officers have given their lives in the line of duty, including the following officers: Officer Anthony Francone, Pyramid Lake Paiute Police, died on August 25, 2023, when he was struck by a vehicle. Sergeant Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix, Nevada Department of Public - Nevada Highway Patrol, died on November 30, 2023, when both were struck by a drunk driver; and

WHEREAS, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial has added Nevada Department of Public - Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Clifford Fontaine, who died on November 27, 2021, from COVID-19, and Corrections Officer Victor Hunter, LVMPD, who died on September 16, 2011, from a work-related incident; and

WHEREAS, the names of all these dedicated public servants are engraved on the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on the Nevada Capitol Grounds and honored annually, and during National Police Week, all Nevadans are encouraged to remember the thousands of law enforcement officers who have lost their lives while protecting their communities and express their appreciation to Nevada’s active and retired law enforcement officers;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOE LOMBARDO, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim May 2, 2024, as

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ MEMORIAL DAY IN NEVADA