About The Washington DC Metropolitan Police Memorial & Museum
The Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Memorial and Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It is intended to honor the fallen heroes of the Metropolitan Police Department. We also are establishing a Metropolitan Police Museum to preserve their legacy and the rich and unique history of policing in the nation’s Capital.
Sadly, an average of one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 57 hours. In fact, a total of more than 24,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice since 1791. (see source)
On May 1, 2023, the DC Police Memorial achieved its 11+ year goal to renovate the existing Memorial Fountain, built in 1942 by citizens, and to build a new Memorial Wall with the names of all the DC MPD officers who have died in the line of duty since the department was founded. The memorial is in front of the Daly building, the historic headquarters of the MPD, at 300 Indiana Avenue, NW.
We need your ongoing support to maintain the memorial to ensure it never again falls into such a sad state.
Your support is also needed to build a museum of police history to preserve MPD artifacts that tell the story of our city and the MPD.
Crumbling cement at the base of the fountain
Crumbling cement at the base of the fountain
memorial fountain in sad state of disrepair
Memorial fountain in sad state of disrepair (before repair)
Cracked cement at the base of the fountain
Cracked cement at the base of the fountain before repair
Rendering of renovated fountain and new memorial wall
Rendering of renovated fountain and new memorial
Fountain problems web
History of the DC Police Memorial
In 2008, Retired Lieutenant Donald Blake put forth the idea that theMemorial Fountain in front of Police Headquarters built by the citizens and business community of Washington, DC in 1942, be repaired and made into a better memorial. He was also motivated by not only creating a fitting memorial for those who had given their lives in the service of the city, but by the sad and uninviting condition of the memorial fountain as it was. It was an eyesore that was only turned on once a year for a memorial ceremony. It would be filled with a product to turn the water blue to look more appealing. The location of the fountain is in front of the the Metropolitan Washington DC Police Department and near the pristine maintained National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall.
Don and his wife Terry felt strongly that our pathetic and crumbling memorial was an embarrassment. They also thought something needed to be done. After identifying the appropriate stake holders, a board was established with the blessing of the Metropolitan Washington DC Police Department (MPD) and more than a decade of work got underway.
Support The Memorial & Musueum
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization intended to honor the fallen heroes of the Metropolitan Police Department. We also aim to establish an MPD Police Museum to preserve their legacy and also the rich and unique history of policing in the Nation’s Capital. Help us make this vision a reality by lending your support with a tax-deductible donation.