FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 6, 2026
Contact: comms@ncdoj.gov
919-538-2809
RALEIGH – Attorney General Jeff Jackson and the North Carolina Department of Justice, along with the North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police, the Greensboro Police Department, and North Carolina Concerns of Police Survivors, will host the 41st Annual Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 10 a.m. The ceremony will take place at the Lawndale Baptist Church in Greensboro.
The guest speaker for this year’s ceremony will be Charlotte-Mecklenburg Chief of Police Estella Patterson.
“This ceremony honors the lives and sacrifices of our fallen officers,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “We owe them, and their families, our deepest gratitude for their service and sacrifice. I hope that our fellow North Carolinians will join us for this remembrance, and I thank the Fraternal Order of Police, the Justice Academy, the Greensboro Police Department, and North Carolina C.O.P.S. for their work to host this year’s ceremony.”
“Peace Officers’ Memorial Day is a sacred time for us to pause, reflect, and honor the courageous men and women who gave their lives in service to others,” said Chet Effler, President of the North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police. “Each name we remember represents a story of sacrifice, commitment, and unwavering dedication to protecting our communities. As the North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police, we stand united with our state and local partners, as well as the families of the fallen, to ensure their legacy is never forgotten. We also call on our communities to stand with us, not just in remembrance, but in continued support of those who wear the badge today. Their service matters, their sacrifice matters, and their memory must endure.”
“This day reminds us of the extraordinary courage shown by the men and women who gave their lives protecting our communities,” said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Chief of Police Estella D. Patterson. “We owe it to them—and to their families, colleagues and loved ones—to ensure that their service, their sacrifice and their commitment to justice are never forgotten. As we gather to remember these heroes, we also renew our promise to stand steadfast in our mission to safeguard and serve the people of North Carolina.”
“Our department is honored to help host this ceremony and to stand in solidarity with our law enforcement partners and with the families, friends and colleagues of fallen officers,” said Assistant Chief Milford Harris of the Greensboro Police Department. “We are painfully aware of how deeply these losses are felt by their families and their respective agencies. We are especially grateful for our community’s support and ask that residents join us April 14 as we remember and honor our fallen colleagues.”
The Department of Justice lists the names of all fallen law enforcement officers here.
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