The Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument (MLEOM) is intended to provide a place to gather and pay tribute to those Michigan law enforcement officers who have given their lives in the line of duty. The Memorial honors their courage, dedication and unwavering commitment to preserving our safety and, ultimately, our way of life. Below is a brief history of the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument Fund Commission and the Memorial Monument.
On July 1, 2004, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed 2004 PA 177 into law, creating the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument Fund. The Commission includes four survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, a police chaplain, a representative of the Attorney General and a representative of the State Treasurer. Members of the Commission are responsible for overseeing the financing, design, and construction of a memorial monument dedicated to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Members of the Commission are appointed by the Governor of Michigan.
The winning design for the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument was unveiled at a press conference in Lansing on February 8, 2007. The "Sentinel", a design by David Milling, of David Milling & Associates/Architects of Ann Arbor was modified in 2017. The monument will be composed of 10 sentinels - 4’ X 8’ metal panels engraved with the names of fallen officers - 'standing vigil over the memories of those lost.' The panels will march from west to east and will be lit from below. The panels will provide a sense of strength and stability due to their scale while allowing security and visibility of the adjacent Vietnam Memorial.
On Wednesday, October 18, 2006, Governor Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Senator John Kerry joined the Memorial Monument Commission and 200 others in dedicating the site of the future memorial. The memorial site is located within the Veterans Memorial Park, at the corner of Allegan Street and Butler Boulevard, directly south of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in downtown Lansing.
The state broke ground for the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument on October 18, 2018, in a ceremony attended by Gov. Rick Snyder, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and numerous other public safety officials and surviving family members of heroes lost in the line of duty. In early 2018, Gov. Snyder signed a supplemental appropriation for a $1.18 million grant to build the Memorial Monument, pushing the 14-year fund-raising efforts past the goal needed to begin construction.
