Law enforcement agencies in Texas are marking National Police Week. Monday is Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor those who were killed in the line of duty.
President John F. Kennedy signed a bill establishing May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in 1962.
Entering National Police Week, the Dallas County Sheriff's Department held a memorial for its 19 deputies who have been killed in the line of duty.
"The message is we will never forget the sacrifices that have been made for our behalf," says Sheriff Marian Brown.
Brown says Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week can call attention both to the sacrifices made by fallen officers and those who are still responding to calls every day.
"Even as we are here honoring those who are fallen, we have those who are still carrying on the work that needs to be done," she says.
Brown says events like this give law enforcement a chance to reflect but also give departments an opportunity to thank fallen officers' families.
"We think it's important to stop and let the families and let the world know we will not forget," she says.
The Officer Down Memorial Page says departments across the country have had 42 line of duty deaths so far in 2023.
In Texas, one officer has died this year: Cameron Police Sergeant Joshua Clouse was killed last Wednesday. Police say he was shot and killed by a suspect while trying to serve a warrant for a suspect investigators say shot his wife.
Cameron Police say the woman called 911 from a neighbor's house. They say Clouse was among officers responding, and they say the suspect started shooting at police. Clouse was killed; other officers returned fire, killing the suspect.
Clouse was married with two kids.
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