Each year, thousands of officers, their families and friends, and citizens who support those who don a badge and gun flock to the greater DC metro area to observe Police Week - and specifically show support for those law enforcement who serve and protect society every day. It is a time of remembrance for those who gave their lives, and of solidarity for those who they left behind.

President Kennedy established May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week surrounding it as Police Week. This weekend marks the end of it and the final day of events open to the public as well as all police agencies country-wide.

As of this evening, the Officer Down Memorial Project records 45 police deaths in 2015. Those deaths range from gunfire by armed suspects (11 so far this year), to being struck by vehicles while directing traffic or investigating accidents (2 to date), to succumbing to prior injuries from assault (1) or illness associated with response to the 9/11 attacks (2). They also include those potentially avoidable deaths, such as vehicle or motorcycle accidents (13), or heart attack (11).

The most recent death was just yesterday, May 15, on Peace Officers Memorial Day itself. Reserve Deputy Sonny Smith of Johnson Co, AR, was shot while pursuing a burglary suspect through a wooded area in the early morning hours. In spite of being shot in the neck, he never gave up - returning fire and wounding the suspect, which ultimately led to him being taken into custody. Deputy Smith died shortly after being transported to the hospital. He was an 11 year veteran of the Sheriff's Office, and he left behind a wife and five children.

Eight police canines also died in 2015. The first to die this year was K9 Sultan of the Riverside, CA, Sheriff's Department. Assisting with apprehending an armed felon, Sultan tracked the suspect to where he was hiding underneath a house, where the suspect shot him. He was rushed to an emergency animal hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival; the suspect was later shot and killed when he emerged from a residence while brandishing a firearm. Sultan, a tracking and narcotics canine, was a 2 year veteran of his department.

Due to work obligations, I was unable to make it to any of the events this week in spite of them taking place in my back yard. Even more unfortunate, this is the third year straight where I have been unable to attend for the same reasons. I hope to next year, but I'm not holding my breath just yet. At the very least, I can show my support for those officers who continue to hold to the highest standard across the country and who continue to work toward protecting and helping the entire public - the same people who they serve.