The Tuscarawas County Courthouse was lit up in white and blue Wednesday night for Peace Officers Memorial Day, held each year to pay tribute to fallen law enforcement officers. (Photo by Stacey Carmany, Tusco TV)

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) - The local Fraternal Order of Police president is refusing to let those who died in the line of duty be forgotten. 

Bob Everett says Wednesday was Peace Officer Memorial Day, with officers wearing black bands over their badges and flags flown at half staff in honor of those who died protecting their communities. 

“We’re seeing more officers be shot, more officers be ambushed. We’re seeing all sorts of things that we didn’t see before,” he says.

Everett says 144 officers were killed in 2018.

“Tragically, we’re headed that direction again this year so far with 33 officers. I believe in the last week or so we’ve had three officers killed in the line of duty, just in the last week,” he says.

The Tuscarawas County Commissioners also ordered the courthouse lights turned white and blue Wednesday evening as a tribute to the officers lost. 

Peace Officer Memorial Day is held each year during Police Week which runs through Saturday. The FOP encourages people to post their thanks to law enforcement on social media with #policeweek to show support.

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