Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, 2013

Record & deadlines

1. May 10, 2013Signed

   Signed by the President

2. May 15, 2013FR published

   Published in the Federal Register · 78 FR 28713

   Federal Register PDF
3. May 18, 2013

   Police Week ends

4. May 15, 2013

   Peace Officers Memorial Day; flags at half-staff

5. 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

• Governors of the United States
• officials of territories subject to US jurisdiction
• appropriate officials of all units of government

What to expect

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