The City of Knoxville, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County, Knox County Sheriff's Department, the Fraternal Order of Police and other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies held a joint law enforcement memorial service on Tuesday, May 13 at the World's Fair Park Amphitheater to honor National Peace Officers Memorial Day.

On October 1, 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed Public Law 87-726 designating May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week containing May 15 as National Police Week. 103rd Congress later amended this law as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. President Bill Clinton signed Public Law 103-322 which directs that the flag of the United States on all Government buildings be displayed at half staff on May 15th, National Peace Officers Memorial Day.

On May 15, 1982, the first National Peace Officers Memorial Day Service was held in Washington, D.C.

Activities during National Police Week now include the annual Candlelight Vigil at the National Law Enforcement Offiers Memorial, COPS National Police Survivors Seminars as well as the National Peace Officers Memorial Day Service.

The 2008 Knoxville-Knox County Peace Officers Memorial Service was presented through the support of the Fraternal Order of Police Volunteer Lodge No. Two in cooperation with the federal, sate, and local law enforcement agencies.

In Remembrance

Knoxville Police Department
Captain Ed Cummings
Lieutenance Paris Dale Goin
Officer John Stephen Irwin
Sergeant William Irwin
Sergeant Terry Lynn Reynolds

Knox County Sheriff's Office
Sergeant Donnie Weaver
Corrections Officer Andy Wilson

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Special Agent Billy T. Frazier
Special Agent Shields Winford Smith, Sr.

Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority
Officer John. E. Childress

University of Tennessee
Officer Thomas E. Garrett, Jr.