Officer Down Memorial
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE
"When a police officer is killed, it's not an agency that loses an officer, it's an entire nation."
Chris Cosgriff, ODMP Founder
The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring America's fallen law enforcement heroes. More than 23,000 officers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the United States since 1791; it is with great honor that ODMP preserves their memories within its pages. The stories of courage and selflessness exhibited by officers who have given their lives to serve and protect the citizens of this nation are a testament to the dedication of the men and women who wear the badge.
History of the ODMP
In 1996 Chris Cosgriff, a James Madison University freshman, read a Washington Post article about the release of a murderer, convicted of slaying two Prince George's County, Maryland, police officers. Upon learning that this violent criminal who had taken the lives of two of America's finest served only 16 years for this heinous act, Chris was compelled to find a way to honor these and other fallen officers. Thus, the Officer Down Memorial Page was created.
In the early stages of development, the ODMP honored only law enforcement officers who had been killed or wounded in 1996, but quickly expanded to include officers killed in the line of duty dating back to 1990. Then, with the help of the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial Fund, Inc., the site gained access to information about thousands of heroes who had given their lives in the line of duty since the 1790's.