NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MEMORIAL FUND
THE
ROSE AND SHIELD INSIDER SPRING 2026 EDITION
THE FUTURE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
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omewhere on our Memorial, there is a name that has not yet been carved. A future loss. A family that doesn’t yet know what is coming. A spouse who expects a loved one to walk through the door—not to be met by a folded flag. That is the future Destination Zero is fighting for. Over the past year, through our Destination Zero initiative, we acted on a simple, yet urgent truth: line-of-duty deaths and serious injuries are not inevitable. When agencies invest in officer safety, wellness, and preparation, lives are saved—and this year’s Destination Zero Award winners are living proof. In Independence, Ohio, wellness is treated as protection. Officers receive cancer screenings, annual mental health check-ins with licensed clinicians, and on-duty time to stay physically fit. The impact has been immediate and measurable—sick time was cut in half, keeping more officers healthy and on the job and saving the city $125,000.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: p2: A Special Message from our CEO p2: Your Impact in Action p3: More Than a Badge: Donor Spotlight p3: A Life of Compassion and Courage p4: National Police Week p4: 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil p5: Why Your Gift Matters p6: Ways to Give p6: How to Stay Connected
In Madison, Connecticut, safety starts with preparation. Every patrol vehicle carries trauma kits, tourniquets, and rifle plates, and nearly 90% of officers are trained in crisis intervention. The result is one of the lowest use-of-force rates in the country—clear evidence that the best-equipped officers are often the ones who need to use force the least. Morton Grove, Illinois has focused on survivability, providing custom-fit body armor, monthly shield training, and peer support—along with an emotional support canine that has become a quiet but powerful source of resilience for the department. In Newport Beach, California, officer wellness is woven into daily life through fitness incentives, comprehensive health screenings, and healthy, on-site meals that make good choices possible even during demanding shifts. And in Smithfield, Virginia, where traffic stops are a constant risk, high-visibility vests and advanced LED lighting are making officers safer simply by making them impossible to miss. What unites these departments is not just innovation, but intention. Their hard-won lessons are shared with agencies nationwide, which ultimately creates a blueprint for a safer future. This May, as we honor the fallen during National Police Week, we also celebrate the departments helping to ensure fewer families ever have to grieve. We invite you to join us in person in Washington, DC, or online for our 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13, where remembrance and hope meet in light. Because the future of law enforcement is being written now, and it is brighter when we choose to protect those who serve. 444 E STREET, NW
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A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
YOUR IMPACT IN ACTION
Dear Friends, Each May, during National Police Week, visitors walk the grounds of the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum to honor the humanity behind the badge— men and women, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, whose service came at a profound cost. New names are added each year, reminding us these sacrifices are deeply personal. Over the last six years, law enforcement has served through disruption, isolation, and relentless pressure, often with fewer resources and less support. Yet this period has also revealed extraordinary resilience and commitment. A new era is emerging—one that treats officer safety and wellness as moral imperatives and prioritizes prevention, empathy, and care. That shift is saving lives. Line-of-duty deaths declined by 25% last year— representing lives spared, families kept whole, and futures preserved. This National Police Week, we honor the fallen while working toward a safer future for law enforcement.
What’s New at the Museum This spring, the Museum will debut Without Warning: Ending the Terror of the DC Snipers, a powerful new exhibit examining one of the most complex manhunts in American history. Through rare artifacts, audio recordings, and investigative detail, visitors will see how officers from local, state, and federal agencies worked together under relentless pressure to restore safety and save lives.
Honoring the Fallen: Memorial Updates This month we began engraving the names of 111 officers lost in 2025, along with officers from prior years whose sacrifice has not yet been formally recognized. Each name represents a life of service and a family forever changed. This sacred work ensures that every fallen hero is honored with dignity and remembered by a grateful nation.
Together in service, Bill Alexander Chief Executive Officer
New Initiatives in Officer Safety and Wellness In September 2025, NLEOMF honored law enforcement agencies from across the country through Destination Zero, recognizing outstanding Officer Safety and Wellness programs in five categories. These departments are setting new standards for how agencies protect their people, share best practices, and build cultures where officers look out for one another and return home safer.
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MORE THAN A BADGE: DONOR SPOTLIGHT For Judy McClain, giving to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund comes from a simple but powerful belief: law enforcement officers are our friends. Judy’s appreciation for law enforcement grew when she and her husband befriended officers in Prince George’s County, Maryland. As she learned more about what officers face each day—the risks they take and the responsibility they carry—her respect deepened. “Many people don’t realize how much police officers do,” Judy says. “They protect us every single day.” That understanding became deeply personal when two officers from Prince George’s County were killed in the line of duty, and she saw how their deaths affected the officers she knew. Seeing the impact on them and on the families of the officers who lost their lives, changed her perspective. When Judy learned about the Memorial, she saw it not only as a place of remembrance, but as a support system for families and for officers who are still serving. Over time, Judy’s giving has grown alongside that conviction. She believes the Memorial Fund helps ensure families are not forgotten and officers know they are not alone. Her generosity reflects a desire to honor sacrifice while strengthening the community that stands behind the badge. Her story calls us forward.
A LIFE OF COMPASSION AND COURAGE REMEMBERING SENIOR POLICE OFFICER ALEX D. ROBERTS End of Watch: September 17, 2025 Years in Service: 15 Senior Police Officer Alex Roberts served the Houston Police Department with honor, dedication, and quiet resolve for well over a decade. Since joining the department in 2010, he was known as a dependable presence and a committed public servant. Assigned to the Traffic Enforcement Division’s Solo Motorcycle Detail, Officer Roberts worked in one of the most demanding roles in law enforcement, protecting others during high-risk roadway operations. On September 17, 2025, while providing a motorcycle escort for a wide load in Anderson County, Texas, he was struck head-on by a vehicle that failed to yield. Officer Roberts’ death is a solemn reminder of the dangers officers face each day, often unseen. He is remembered for his service, courage, and commitment to keeping others safe.
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JOIN US FOR NATIONAL POLICE WEEK! National Police Week is a time to come together in remembrance, reflection, and solidarity with the law enforcement community. Throughout the week, we invite you to join us for ceremonies and gatherings that honor the fallen, support their families, and recognize the service and sacrifice behind the badge.
MONDAY, MAY 11 1:00pm – 2:00pm | National Police K9 Memorial Service
TUESDAY, MAY 12 2:00pm – 3:00pm | Police Unity Tour Bicycle Ride-In | Memorial 3:00pm – 3:30pm | Police Unity Tour Ceremony | Memorial 7:00pm | Honor Guard and Ambassadors Reception
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 10:00am – 11:00am | Shomrim Ceremony | Memorial Grounds 8:00pm – 10:00pm | Candlelight Vigil | National Mall and Livestream
THURSDAY, MAY 14 6:00pm – 8:00pm | 31st Annual Pipeband Memorial March
FRIDAY, MAY 15 12:00pm – Midnight | Stand Watch for the Fallen | Memorial
ADD YOUR LIGHT TO THE 38TH ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL Our United By Light campaign is live, and we invite you to join us! We’re bringing thousands of supporters together to honor fallen law enforcement officers at the Annual Candlelight Vigil. Right now, a special matching opportunity will DOUBLE the impact of your gift to touch even more lives during National Police Week.
Your gift today will help transform remembrance into action: • $25 = $50 to provide 50 candles, ensuring every attendee can take part in the Annual Candlelight Vigil
• $40 = $80 to place two plaques including the image, name, rank, end of watch date, and department for fallen officers in the Hall of Remembrance
• $80 = $160 to cover the cost of two surviving families to visit the Museum • $500 = $1,000 to engrave the name of a heroic fallen officer on our Memorial With your gift, you can light a virtual candle displayed during the ceremony and add your voice to a national message of remembrance, gratitude, and unwavering respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Light your candle for National Police Week at NLEOMF.org/Vigil. SPRING 2026 | THE ROSE AND SHIELD: INSIDER 4
WHY YOUR GIFT MATTERS
TO INCREASE YOUR IMPACT WITH A GIFT TODAY, PLEASE SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT
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Your generosity honors the fallen while creating ripples of change that touch every corner of law enforcement. When you give, you’re investing in a future where:
Service Is Never Forgotten (The Memorial) Each name engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial represents a life of duty and sacrifice. Your support helps ensure those names are honored with dignity, that our Memorial remains a place of reflection for families and officers, and that remembrance ceremonies continue to affirm a simple truth: their service will always matter.
Stories of Service Are Preserved (The Museum) Inside the National Law Enforcement Museum, visitors encounter the real stories behind the badge. Through immersive exhibits and educational programs, your generosity helps preserve the complexity, courage, and human cost of law enforcement. These unique experiences foster understanding, invite reflection, and connect communities more deeply to those who serve them.
Those Who Protect Us Are Protected (Officer Safety and Wellness Programs) Your support advances initiatives that prioritize Officer Safety and Wellness as essential foundations of service. From wellness training and peer support to research-driven safety programs, your generosity helps strengthen resilience, support departments nationwide, and reinforce a culture where caring for officers is understood as caring for the communities they serve.
ANNUAL DONOR OPPORTUNITIES We invite you to donate at the level that best suits your goal: FALLEN HEROES CIRCLE
THREE PILLAR PARTNER
SHIELD SOCIETY
THIN BLUE LINE SOCIETY
DEFENDERS OF THE LINE
SERVICE SUPPORTERS
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$10,000-$24,999
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MUSEUM SHOP DISCOUNT
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WEBSITE RECOGNITION
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ANNUAL REPORT LISTING
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INVITATION TO CEO BRIEFING
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VIGIL SEATING
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GIVING LEVEL BENEFITS
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A New Opportunity Is Introduced (Monthly Giving) The Enduring Watch Society brings together supporters who choose to stand with law enforcement throughout the year. Through monthly giving, members help sustain our Memorial and Museum, strengthen Officer Safety and Wellness initiatives, and ensure that every life of service is honored with care and respect. Join the Enduring Watch Society with a recurring gift of any amount. Plus, with your monthly donations, you’ll be recognized and receive benefits at the Annual Giving level that aligns with your total calendar-year giving! For example, with a gift of $84/month, you’ll enjoy the benefits of the Thin Blue Line Society. To make your impact with a gift today, please scan the QR code above or visit NLEOMF.org/SpringInsider. 5 THE ROSE AND SHIELD: INSIDER | SPRING 2026
GIVE REGULARLY
WAYS TO GIVE
Monthly Giving
GIVE NOW
Join our Enduring Watch Society and become eligible for Thin Blue Line Society benefits with an automated monthly gift of $84 to provide steady support year-round.
Online, Phone, or Mail
Workplace Giving
Make a secure one-time gift, set up recurring donations through your preferred method, or consider a gift through a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF).
Make giving easy through payroll deduction, the Combined Federal Campaign (NLEOMF #11631), or see if your employer matches charitable contributions.
Gifts of Stock
GIVE LATER
Give more while keeping more—donate appreciated stocks for greater tax savings and impact.
Donate Your Vehicle Turn your unwanted car, truck, or motorcycle into vital support for NLEOMF.
Planned Giving Include the Memorial Fund in your estate plan and create a lasting legacy for law enforcement. Legacy gifts of $5,000 or more will qualify you for our Circle of Valor. At this giving level, you’ll receive website recognition, inclusion in our Annual Report, and an invitation to our annual CEO Briefing.
HOW TO STAY CONNECTED Become an NLEOMF Ambassador Are you an active, former, or retired law enforcement officer? Join the NLEOMF Ambassador Program! As an Ambassador, you’ll serve as a local NLEOMF liaison to law enforcement agencies by providing training and technical assistance to officers and attend events as a representative of the organization. To learn more and get involved, visit NLEOMF.org/Ambassadors.
Experience the Museum Traveling to Washington, DC this summer? We invite you to come visit our museum starting in May to experience Without Warning: Ending the Terror of the DC Snipers—an exhibit that places you inside a moment when fear gripped an entire region, and officers from across jurisdictions worked tirelessly to restore safety. Through artifacts, audio, and firsthand accounts, this moving exhibit reveals not just how the case was solved, but what it demanded of the men and women who carried that burden day after day.
Listen to Precinct 444 Podcast Each episode dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of law enforcement, from wellness and trauma to the latest in officer safety and beyond. Tune in to learn how dedicated professionals are serving and evolving to protect their communities. Explore the series at NLEOMF.org/Museum/Precinct-444.
Ways to Stand With Us! From baseball to NASCAR, our law enforcement appreciation events celebrate the heroes who serve our communities every day. Join us for unforgettable moments and show your support. See upcoming events at NLEOMF.org/Events.
TO INCREASE YOUR IMPACT WITH A GIFT TODAY, PLEASE SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT
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National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization (Tax ID# 52-1382926) operating the Memorial and Museum campus in Washington, DC. Charitable donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
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