Since 1962, when President Kennedy signed Public Law 87-726, the United States has been honoring police officers with National Police Week. This week is always the week in May which includes May 15^th. For 2023, it occurs from May 15^th to the 21^st.  This is a great time to honor those who risk their lives daily in the line of duty. 

Gifts for police officers can be a great way to show them that you appreciate what they do and stand with them. At PinMart, we’ve got some police officer gift ideas and we’ve come up with a few other ways you can participate in the week in a meaningful way. 

Give a Gift

PinMart makes a collection of Thin Blue Line Gifts that show your support with a present that will be cherished and possibly even collected. These gifts include lanyards, enamel pins, police morale patches, engravable pins, ball markers for golf, coasters, t-shirts, water bottles, flasks, caps, patches, and more. The best part about thin blue line gifts is that you can order a bunch and hand them out throughout the year. 

Attend a Service

Many communities use this week as a time to honor fallen police officers in the community or the country. A fantastic way to support people who work hard for your safety is to show up and let them know they’re not alone and that the community is behind them. Check your local events or with your local police station to see if they’re holding an event this year and if it’s open to the public. 

Wear Thin Blue Line Garb

Update your wardrobe with a thin blue line hat, t-shirt, scarf, beanie, jacket, etc. Wearing your support boosts morale among the police force and displays your appreciation. Just wearing blue during this week can be a display of acknowledgment, as blue is the color used to symbolize the United States police force.

Wave a Flag

Thin Blue Line flags displayed outside your home add a little curb drama while showing your support for local law enforcement. Smaller flags can be displayed in your cubicle at work, or you can wave them at a ceremony honoring the heroes of your hometown. 

Offer a Treat

While showing up with a box of home-baked goodies might sound like a good idea, it probably isn’t. Instead, contact your local dispatch and see if you can offer to order pizzas for the crew one day. Maybe you can have a foot-long sub delivered or any number of treats from nearby restaurants. For busy professionals who are always on the go, a delicious snack is always welcome.

Visit the National Law Enforcement Museum

If you’ve got some vacation time coming up or you live in the Washington, D.C. area, why not learn more about the history of policing in the United States by visiting the National Law Enforcement Museum. In addition to the museum, there’s a memorial to honor the fallen in this country, which is a powerful way to connect and deepen your appreciation for people who chose to make their life’s work all about protecting others. 

If a trip to D.C. isn’t in the cards for you, you might want to see if your state or an adjoining state has a law enforcement memorial. Many states do, and visiting these regional memorials can be just as emotionally charged as the National Memorial. 

Make a Donation

Dropping off a check at your local police station is not a good idea and probably won’t be accepted. Likewise, always be suspicious of any group that reaches out to you asking for money for a local police department – there are a lot of scams out there. But donating to police officers, first responders, and veterans’ groups is possible.

The Federal Trade Commission has come up with a great article on donating to police charities safely and legally. 

Sponsor an Event

Why wait for an event to happen – you can create an event and turn it into a big way for your family, friends, and even your entire community to show their support. This is definitely something that requires a go-getter to help and organize, but it’s possible, and it can be a uniting experience for everyone involved. Consider a golf tournament, a walk/run, a dance, a bowling tournament, a parade, a picnic in the park – the sky’s the limit when it comes to creating an event to honor police officers. 

Tip – Make sure you have some mementos or goodie bags for people who attend to thank them for participating and as a reminder of the event. Ball markers for golf events, coasters for picnics or cocktail parties, pins and lanyards for parades – you get the idea. 

Say Thanks

One of the easiest ways to celebrate law enforcement is to simply say thanks. If you see a police officer or if you know one, make a point to thank them for choosing a profession that revolves around serving and protecting others. This gesture might be the highlight of their day and can remind them that even though their job is dangerous, it’s important and they’re appreciated. 

If you’re interested in purchasing any gifts for police officers or even police officer retirement gifts from PinMart, contact us, and our team will be happy to help you find just the right gift. We have a huge variety of options from customized to general gifts, one-off specialized presents for an individual, to products that can be bought in bulk. We’re here to help you say “Thanks.”