The Martinsville Police Department, Martinsville Sheriff's Office, Henry County Sheriff's Office, and Virginia State Police held their annual Peace Officers' Memorial Service, remembering officers and deputies that lost their lives in the line of duty.
Each department honored the following officers and deputies who lost their lives in the line of duty:
Henry County Sheriff's Office
- Paul Edward Grubb
- George Melvin Brown
- Willis Herman Ferguson
- John Hughes Mitchell
Martinsville Police Department
- Jonathan W. Bowling
- George F. Carter
Virginia State Police
- Charles Eugene Morris
- James Michael Phillippi
Fieldale Police Department
Bassett Police Department
The idea of a peace officers Memorial Day came into effect on October 1, 1961, when Congress asked the President to designate May 15th to honor law enforcement officers. President John F. Kennedy signed the bill into law on October 1, 1962. Each year, the President of the United States proclaims May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week of each year on which May 15th occurs as Police Week.
Both Henry County and the City of Martinsville issued proclamations recognizing the week in both localities.