Section 1-3-9 Alabama Peace Officers’ Memorial Day.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares the following: (1) In 1962, President John F. Kennedy declared May 15 as National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, in honor of the American law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty. (2) The National Fraternal Order of Police initiated an annual service in 1982 to honor and remember fallen law enforcement officers. (3) Since 1983, the Alabama State Fraternal Order of Police has annually held a Fallen Officer Memorial Service in honor of Alabama officers killed in the line of duty. This service is traditionally held on the south lawn of the State Capitol on the first Friday in May. (4) Since its inception, Alabama’s Fallen Officer Memorial Service has honored 598 officers, and the service has provided comfort to the families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. (b)(1) The first Friday in May of each year is designated as Alabama Peace Officers’ Memorial Day. On this day, the Alabama State Fraternal Order of Police may host a Fallen Officer Memorial Service on the south lawn of the State Capitol. All residents of this state are urged to devote some portion of Peace Officers’ Memorial Day to reflect upon the sacrifice of Alabama law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty and to honor their selfless contributions to the livelihoods of their fellow Alabamians. (2) Each county and municipality may designate the first Friday in May as Alabama Peace Officers’ Memorial Day.