Q&A: Police Week Matters

Q&A: Police Week Matters

With U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley

Q: Why do Americans observe National Police Week?

A: When moms and dads wait for a teenage driver to return home safely or a small business owner locks up their doors for the night, Americans across the country appreciate that law enforcement officers stand on the thin blue line every day to uphold law and order. Around the clock, 365 days a year, our men and women in blue patrol the streets and keep the peace. When they put on the badge and head out the door, they shield their neighbors from crime and violence, working on the front lines of danger and putting public safety above their own. Tragically, some peace officers don't return home safely from duty.

In 1962, Congress adopted a joint resolution authorizing President John F. Kennedy to designate May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and to observe the entire week as Police Week. For more than six decades, Americans are called upon in May to pay special tribute to law enforcement officers who serve and protect public safety. On May 15, flags on government buildings are flown at half-staff to honor those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from across the country attend the annual Candlelight Vigil and National Peace Officers' Memorial Service in Washington, D.C. to honor fallen officers. These ceremonies bridge the enduring loss and bereavement of families left behind with the solemn appreciation of a nation grateful for their public service. In 2026, the names of 363 officers were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Notably, the memory and sacrifice of 10 Iowans from the annals of history were included in the annual roll call, some of whom were Civil War veterans: Charles Lodine, Albert City (1901); Augustus C. Becker, Des Moines (1904); Reuben Fenstermaker, Farmington (1867); Robert W. Coulter, Farmington (1902); Samuel S. Cronk, Jackson County (1867); Samuel H. Hamilton, Le Mars (1888); James W. Busby, Paton (1911); Elmer J. Lennon, Postville (1939); John Kerr Myers, Stuart (1921); Charles Loucks, Stuart (1954).

Fallen peace officers leave behind a legacy of public service that continues today across our state. I join my fellow Iowans in gratitude for the men and women in blue who have followed in their footsteps and answered the call to work in law enforcement. Thank you for keeping the peace, protecting life and property and making our communities a safe place to raise a family, run a business and call Iowa home.

Q: What law enforcement policies did you advance during Police Week?

A: As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I steered a half-dozen bipartisan bills through the committee that provide much-needed support for our brave members of law enforcement. These bills provide resources to invest in training, technology and mental health resources and benefits for the men and women in blue who keep our communities safe.

Working in law enforcement is a highly stressful job that tests mental health day after day. Officers are called upon to stay calm in the face of danger when responding to criminal violence, such as hostage situations, drug trafficking and gang activity. First responders and emergency dispatchers are on the front lines of crisis in their local communities; the emotional toll cuts deep when responding to mass casualties, domestic violence and traffic fatalities, especially when it involves young children. My bipartisan Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Act recognizes these burdens and directs the Department of Justice to develop treatment programs for police, fire, emergency medical and 911 personnel who suffer from PTSD or acute stress disorders.

I also advanced my bipartisan bill to combat contraband cell phones from getting into federal prisons to improve prison security for inmates, staff and the public. This measure builds on my bill President Obama signed into law to prevent inmates from using cell phones to commit crimes while serving time in prison. Named after a corrections officer killed in the line of duty in 2013, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act would strengthen accountability and beef up the penalty for smuggling or possessing a contraband cellphone in federal prison from a misdemeanor to a felony. The Department of Justice Inspector General recently said a "cell phone in a prison is a deadly weapon."

I'm working to get these measures supporting the men and women who stand on the thin blue line every day across the finish line in Congress.

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