Location:

Immediately north of the Temple of Justice, overlooking Capitol Lake, Heritage Park, and the Overlook Trail

Description:

• The memorial was designed by John Swanson, architect with The Portico Group and constructed by Edifice Construction Company.
• Endorsing Entities- The Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation and numerous private donors
• Dedicated to the Citizens of the state of Washington — May 1, 2006
• Materials- granite, concrete, plantings
• Inscriptions- 'Their duty was to serve. Our duty is to remember' The names of Washington state law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty
• List of names

History & significance:

Located on the Washington state Capitol Campus in the shadow of the Temple of Justice and looking north to Heritage Park and Puget Sound, the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial (WSLEM) is a lasting tribute to law enforcement officers who continue to give their lives in the line of duty. It is a place for survivors to remember their loved ones. It is a place for the public to reflect on the sacrifices made to protect them and marvel at the beauty of the setting overlooking Capitol Lake and the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains beyond.

The WSLEM exists to honor and remember law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in Washington State. An annual ceremony in May honors the State Medal of Honor recipients and dedicates officers killed in the line of duty the prior year. Nearly160 police officers are killed in the line of duty each year in the United States. As of December 2006, 276 Washington State law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty. Washington State averages two law enforcement deaths every year.

The memorial was designed and constructed by the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation. The private non-profit group undertook a major fund raising campaign and successfully installed a beautiful tribute to fallen officers on the Capitol Campus. The memorial was designed by John Swanson, architect with the Portico Group and constructed by Edifice Construction Company. More than $425,000 in private donations was raised to bring the vision to fruition. The Memorial was turned over to the state of Washington on May 19, 2006 as a gift to the citizens of the state of Washington.

The law enforcement memorial is the first Capitol Campus memorial to use the commemorative works account which was authorized in 2005 by the state legislature. This account is in the custody of the state treasurer and will be used for the ongoing care, maintenance, and repair of the law enforcement memorial. The foundation is seeking funds to fully support this effort. The Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation has committed to uphold the dignity and the beauty of the memorial through perpetuity.

Since 1855, 34 years before Washington Territory became a state, over 275 law enforcement officers have been killed. The individuals whose names are carved into the Memorial must be law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty. The Memorial will provide a lasting tribute to those brave officers and tangible recognition of our deep appreciation of their sacrifice.