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NIH Record - National Institutes of Health

NIH Police Day Returns

Six officers stand with their motorcycles with a smiling McGowan standing in between them.

Colleen McGowan (c), director of NIH’s Office of Research Services, which includes the Police Department, smiles alongside several law enforcement officers.

Photo: michael bruins

Two officers stand by police table covered in flyers

Two officers from Montgomery County

Photo: michael bruins

Several officers stand with their motorcycles.

Law enforcement officers from around the DMV attended the NIH Police Day event.

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

McGowan poses with Costanzo and dog on a leash

McGowan (c) greets J. Costanzo (with canine officer) of the Metro Transit Police Department.

Photo: michael bruins

Officers pose in front of a camo van.

Law enforcement officers from around the DMV attended the NIH Police Day event.

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

Officer on a horse, as kids and a man look on.

As usual, the mounted patrol is a kid (and adult!) magnet.

Photo: michael bruins

A smiling state trooper stands by info table, with a table covering that reads: Maryland's Finest.

A Maryland State trooper

Photo: michael bruins

Two uniformed police officers stand at information table under blue tent.

Several police units offer safety information, demonstrations and giveaways.

Photo: michael bruins

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Police Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. NIH marked the commemoration on May 10 by holding NIH Police Day on the Bethesda campus. They hosted local, state and other federal agency police departments, including Naval Support Activity Bethesda, Maryland State Police, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and others at an event on the south lawn of the Clinical Center. 

There were police dogs, a mounted police officer on a horse named Kona, and lots of good cheer and relief. This year’s event was the first NIH Police Day since the pandemic and, fittingly, was held on the eve of the official end of the three-year national Covid-19 emergency.

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