National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is a holiday that falls on January 9th every year and helps citizens come together and show appreciation to their local law enforcement. It’s a day on which citizens can take the time to show police officers that their work is appreciated and that they understand how difficult their job can be. It’s also a good day for police officers and the community to come together and make safer communities. 

The History Of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

On August 9, 2014, an 18-year old black man named Michael Brown Jr. was fatally shot by a 28-year old white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The shooting prompted waves of protests that continued on for weeks. Against this backdrop, some citizen police appreciation and police organizations felt that too much negativity concerning law enforcement was going on in the community, so they decided to create a holiday on which citizens can give their local police some appreciation. 

One of the main organizations involved with the creation of this holiday was the organization C.O.P.S. This organization, also known as Concerns of Police Survivors, founded this holiday in 2015 as a way for citizens to let their police officer know that they work in the community is appreciated and that they know how difficult modern policing can be. It’s a holiday that’s been celebrated ever since. 

Facts About Law Enforcement

We thought that we’d add a bit of information about law enforcement that will help everyone celebrating this holiday get a better idea of the challenges, as well as the problems, that face modern law enforcement organizations and officers.

• In the United States, there are approximately 900,000 sworn law enforcement officers.
• Of the law enforcement officers serving in the U.S., approximately 108,000 of them are female.
• September 11, 2001, was the deadliest single day for police officers in the U.S. 72 officers were killed.
• Between 1791 and 2020, there have been 20,700+ police officers killed in the line of duty.
• The deadliest decade for law enforcement was the 1920s. 
• During the 1920s, an average of 243 police officers each year died. 
• The single deadliest year in law enforcement was 1930. During that year, 304 officers were killed. 

Celebrating National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day can be easily celebrated by taking a moment to thank law enforcement. This can be done by wearing a blue shirt on this day, sending a thank you card to your local police department, or by participating in Project Blue Light by displaying a blue light on your front porch. Parents can have their students write thank you letters to local law enforcement, and people can spread the word about this holiday by using the hashtag #NationalLawEnforcementAppreciationDay on their social media accounts.