National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, observed annually on January 9th, honors the sacrifices and service of law enforcement officers across the United States. The profession has a long and often dangerous history, beginning with the first recorded line-of-duty death in 1786. Over time, law enforcement evolved from volunteer posses to organized municipal and state police forces, with New York City pioneering many early developments such as the first detective unit. Despite advancements, the job remains perilous; the 1920s were the deadliest decade with nearly 2,500 officer deaths, and the single deadliest day was September 11, 2001, when 72 officers died responding to terrorist attacks. Recent years have seen fluctuations in fatalities, with 144 officers killed in 2024 and an 80-year low of 111 deaths projected for 2025.

Today, there are over 900,000 sworn officers in the U.S., including about 12% women, who face ongoing risks including assaults and pandemic-related fatalities. Since 1786, more than 21,000 officers have died in the line of duty, with names memorialized at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was officially established in 2015 following heightened public attention after the 2014 Ferguson incident, encouraging citizens to recognize and thank officers for their daily commitment to public safety. Organizations like Concerns of Police Survivors promote this day as a moment to honor the dedication and sacrifices of law enforcement personnel nationwide.