The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Amends Criteria for Inclusion on the Memorial
Revised criteria now resumes consideration of deaths by suicide as potential line-of-duty deaths.
September 8, 2026 (WASHINGTON, DC)—The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) announced that its Board of Directors has approved revised criteria allowing deaths by suicide to be considered as potential line-of-duty deaths which may be reviewed for inclusion on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
Approved in mid-2026, the change followed extensive research, deliberation and careful consideration of how the revised criteria should be implemented.
NLEOMF will resume reviewing such cases for possible inclusion on the Memorial in the spring of 2027.
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The first pillar of this mission, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors the names of all of the 24,067 officers who have died in the line of duty to date throughout U.S. history. Additionally, NLEOMF maintains and publishes comprehensive details on the circumstances surrounding official line-of-duty deaths. The Officer Safety and Wellness pillar uses that data, coupled with best-practice program models, to produce programming directed at solutions to improve survivability and enhance wellness. NLEOMF’s third pillar, the National Law Enforcement Museum (LawEnforcementMuseum.org) is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come.
