Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, 2013

President Obama proclaimed May 15, 2013 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 12-18, 2013 as Police Week, calling on Americans to observe these events with ceremonies and on officials to fly flags at half-staff. The proclamation honored fallen police officers and included policy rhetoric about community safety, police support, and gun violence reduction without binding directives.

Federal Register Open PDF 78 FR 28713

Impact dates

May 18, 2013
Police Week ends
May 15, 2013
Peace Officers Memorial Day; flags at half-staff
May 12, 2013
Police Week begins

Key directives

Proclaim May 15, 2013 as Peace Officers Memorial Day
Proclaim May 12-18, 2013 as Police Week
Call upon all Americans to observe with appropriate ceremonies and activities
Call on Governors and territorial officials to direct flags flown at half-staff on May 15, 2013
Encourage Americans to display flag at half-staff from homes and businesses on May 15, 2013

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Proclamation of May 15, 2013 as Peace Officers Memorial Day
Proclamation of May 12-18, 2013 as Police Week

Near term (90d)

Flag half-staff observance on May 15, 2013

Long term

—

Risks & tensions

Policy rhetoric on 'weapons of war' and gun control is non-binding and politically charged but carries no enforceable directive
Flag half-staff request to governors is hortatory ('call on') rather than mandatory
Gun policy language may generate partisan interpretation despite ceremonial nature of document