As the leading authority on law enforcement line-of-duty deaths, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) recognizes that our officers on the front lines are increasingly vulnerable to contracting the COVID-19 virus, and are committed to performing the research required to determine how COVID-19 is impacting line-of-duty deaths.
Fallen Law Enforcement During COVID-19 Pandemic
These men and women are our true heroes.
We hope everyone will join with NLEOMF as we continue to keep the law enforcement community in our prayers.
Towards that end, the annual National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Candlelight Vigil will take place virtually this year due to the COVID-19 public health crisis.
For over 30 years, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has held a Candlelight Vigil to honor those who have died in the line of duty.
This year, the names of fallen U.S. law enforcement officers will be formally dedicated on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during a virtual Candlelight Vigil on Wednesday, May 13 at 8 p.m. ET.
(Plan to watch the 32nd Annual Candlelight Vigil here on May 13, 2020 at 8pm (EDT). Courtesy of the NLEOMF and YouTube.)
The vigil will be broadcast via Verizon Media’s BUILD by Yahoo Series and on its social platforms Facebook and Twitter, @VZUpToSpeed and LawMemorial.org.
The virtual broadcast will replace the traditional Candlelight Vigil ceremony held on the National Mall, which draws more than 30,000 first responders, surviving families, and law enforcement supporters annually.
The 2020 ceremony will include special remarks by more than 50 guests including:
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The Honorable Chad Wolf, Acting Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
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The Honorable Steny Hoyer, Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
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Dermot Shea, New York Police Commissioner
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Cerelyn J. Davis, National President, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
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Patrick Yoes, National President, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
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Tom Selleck, Joe Mantegna and John Walsh, and the chief executives of some of the nation’s Fortune 500 corporations, all paying tribute to the fallen U.S. law enforcement officers.
During the virtual Candlelight Vigil, the names of each of the 307 men and women that will be added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial this year will be read aloud in memory of their sacrifice.
Those tuning into the vigil can also visit a web app to view the full list of fallen officers, with their name, rank and photo.
Honoring the Fallen Amidst the Global Pandemic
“The current health crisis we are facing will not deter us from honoring the fallen,” said National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund CEO Marcia Ferranto.
“By holding the annual Candlelight Vigil virtually, we have created an opportunity for the entire nation to light candles and stand in solidarity and support of the surviving families and law enforcement agencies.”
“This is also an opportunity for the public at large to learn about the depth and breadth of the service and sacrifice of American law enforcement.”
Located in Washington, D.C., the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is a living monument to ensure the men and women who died in the line of duty will never be forgotten.
The 307 names being engraved on the Memorial’s walls this year will be added to the 21,910 fallen officers already there, representing 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, federal law enforcement, and military police agencies.
Uniting to Pay Tribute to Law Enforcement Officers
With the Candlelight Vigil broadcast virtually, anyone can join the ceremony in solidarity and support.
Individuals can embrace the spirit of the Candlelight Vigil by participating in United by Light, where they can pay tribute to a law enforcement officer by lighting a virtual candle in respect, honor, or remembrance.
Virtual candles can be lit now to show appreciation for officers serving on the front lines keeping our nation safe during our current health crisis, on May 13 to honor a fallen officer, or any time of year to remember anniversaries, academy graduations, birthdays, special occasions, or just to say thank you for all law enforcement officers do to keep our communities safe.
To participate in United by Light:
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Make an online donation – choose the gift amount that is appropriate and meaningful for you ($10 minimum).
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Receive a thank you message with a link to the Virtual Candle Personal Message form.
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Dedicate a message of hope and healing and light a virtual candle for your law enforcement hero or agency.
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Visit LawMemorial.org/VirtualCandle to view all the virtual candle messages and share it with family and friends.
Your thoughtfulness will shine bright on the Memorial website—thank you!
Verizon is partnering with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund as lead sponsor and broadcast partner.
The live event will be streamed on Verizon Media’s BUILD by Yahoo Series and @VZUpToSpeed Twitter account.
“It’s a privilege to partner with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to help support the virtual Candlelight Vigil,” said Andrés Irlando, Senior Vice President and President, Public Sector and Verizon Connect at Verizon.
“Now more than ever, it’s important to keep this powerful tradition alive as we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and celebrate the women and men who risk their lives every day on the front lines to protect our communities.”
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial contains the names of 22,217 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. For more information about the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, visit LawMemorial.org.
(A nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Washington, DC, the Memorial Fund built and continues to maintain the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial — the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The Memorial Fund is a principal organizer of the National Police Week observance each May and hosts a Candlelight Vigil at the Memorial each May 13 to honor all fallen officers. In addition, the Fund maintains the largest, most comprehensive database of line-of-duty officer deaths, conducts research into officer fatality trends and issues, and serves as an information clearinghouse. Courtesy of TheNLEOMF and YouTube.)
Authorized by Congress in 2000, the 57,000-square-foot National Law Enforcement Museum tells the story of American law enforcement by providing visitors a “walk in the shoes” experience along with educational journeys, immersive exhibitions, and insightful programs.
The Museum is an initiative of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization.
Tomorrow is the virtual Candlelight Vigil and we set a goal to light 22,217 virtual candles for each name on the Memorial’s walls. Please light a candle today with your donation to honor our fallen heroes and officers protecting us today. #UnitedByLighthttps://t.co/HOQdtdEkdO pic.twitter.com/63EnG4xcdt
— NLEOMF (@NLEOMF) May 12, 2020
For more information on the Law Enforcement Museum, visit LawEnforcementMuseum.org.
To Learn More about the virtual Candlelight Vigil on May 13 at 8 p.m. ET, please visit LawMemorial.org.
NLEOMF has been Nominated for Excellence in Public Safety in 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
American Security Today is pleased to announce that Deann Criswell, the NYC Emergency Management Commissioner will deliver the keynote address at the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon Banquet in New York City.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.
Comprehensive List of Categories Include:
| Access Control/ Identification | Personal/Protective Equipment | Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism |
| Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System | Interagency Interdiction Operation | Cloud Computing/Storage Solution |
| Facial/IRIS Recognition | Body Worn Video Product | Cyber Security |
| Video Surveillance/VMS | Mobile Technology | Anti-Malware |
| Audio Analytics | Disaster Preparedness | ID Management |
| Thermal/Infrared Camera | Mass Notification System | Fire & Safety |
| Metal/Weapon Detection | Rescue Operations | Critical Infrastructure |
| License Plate Recognition | Detection Products | And Many Others! |
Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?
With the unprecedented occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus of the safety and security industries has realized the need to increase innovations to address the daily growing challenges.
As such AST aims to make sure these firms and professionals are reflected in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, so we’d like to encourage you to submit appropriate categories recommendations and include COVID-19 Frontline Professionals in your Nominations to see that these Professionals, Facilities, and Vendors receive the Recognition they Deserve!
Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
The 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program surpassed expectations with a record number of nominations received from industry leaders and government agencies, and drew over 200 attendees to the ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Banquet – an exclusive gourmet luncheon and networking opportunity which filled to capacity, before having to turn away late registrants.
The event featured an impassioned and compelling keynote address by William J. Bratton, former police commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD) twice, the Boston Police Department (BPD), and former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), as he walked attendees through 50 years of American policing history, the impacts on the communities, and the evolution of critical communication capabilities in our post 9/11 landscape.
Commissioner Bratton, one of the world’s most respected and trusted experts on risk and security issues and Executive Chairman of Teneo Risk a global advisory firm, was recognized as the ‘2019 ‘ASTORS’ Person of the Year’ for his Lifetime of Dedication and Extraordinary Leadership in Homeland Security and Public Safety.
Why the ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?
2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program Banquet Luncheon
American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’
Over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:
- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
- United States Marine Corps
- The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
- United States Postal Inspection Service
- DHS S&T
- United States Marshals Service (USMS)
- The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Police (PAPD)
- The Department of Justice (DOJ)
- The New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (NYS DHSES)
- United States Border Patrol
- AlertMedia, Ameristar Perimeter Security, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, Bellevue University, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., CornellCookson, Drone Aviation, FLIR Systems, Hanwha Techwin, HID Global, IPVideo Corp., Konica Minolta Business Solutions, LenelS2, ManTech, Regroup Mass Notifications, SafeLogic, SolarWinds, Senstar, ShotSpotter, Smiths Detection, TCOM LP, Trackforce, Verint, and More!
From innovative Military Cyber Programs, to Local, State and Federal Public Safety and Emergency Management Initiatives, New Physical and IT Products and Services, and Security Professional, Threat Assessment, Emergency Preparedness, Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Education and Training Opportunities – Join your ‘ASTORS’ Award-Winning Peers and Receive the Recognition You Deserve!
Excellence in Public Safety and Government Security Award Nominations are also encouraged, such as those 2019 Honored Winners which includes the DEA, U.S. Marine Corps, DHS S&T, Federal Protective Service, DHS S&T NUSTL, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol, The Port Authority of NY/NJ, and the NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services.
Individuals are also encouraged to be nominated for Government Excellence in Public Safety and Homeland Security such as last years widely respected recipients.
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers eyes throughout the story with cutting edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications
The AST Digital Publications is distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state and local levels.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state and local level as well as from private firms allied to government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
To learn more about the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please go to the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Championship Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2019 ‘A Year in Review’.
The ‘ASTORS’ Champion Edition is published annually and includes a review of the ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firms products and services, includes video interviews and more.
It is your Go-To source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2019 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION will have what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitgate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Luncheon at ISC East
For more information about advertising opportunities with American Security Today, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
