The City of Knoxville, Knoxville Police Department, Fraternal Order of Police and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies held a joint Peace Officers Memorial Service on Thursday, May 17 in the Mary Costa Plaza outside of the Knoxville Civic Auditorium/Coliseum to honor National Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Former Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen, IV was the Memorial Speaker.

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 2012 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.