U.S. Attorney Boutros Honors Law Enforcement During National Police Week

CHICAGO — U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois issued a public statement honoring law enforcement officers on May 14, 2026.

The statement, released by the Department of Justice, quotes Boutros directly: “Serving as a sworn law enforcement officer is among the greatest callings in our society.” It forms part of the annual National Police Week observances coordinated across federal, state and local agencies.

The recognition targets the full spectrum of officers who partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on federal cases in the Northern District of Illinois. No specific headcount appears in the release, yet the office routinely collaborates with the FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS-CI, Homeland Security Investigations and dozens of municipal police departments that together employ thousands of sworn personnel across Chicago, suburban Cook County and the collar counties.

The observance produces no statutory or regulatory change. It leaves unaltered charging policies, sentencing recommendations, grant funding or investigative priorities already in effect. No new deadlines are created for Congress, courts or executive agencies.

Downstream, the annual statement maintains established channels of communication between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law-enforcement partners. Those channels remain essential for joint task forces that handle narcotics trafficking, public corruption, cybercrime and violent crime prosecutions.

Agency heads and police chiefs receive the public affirmation at a time when recruitment and retention data published by the FBI show continued hiring shortfalls in many urban departments. The recognition also coincides with routine congressional appropriations cycles that set funding levels for the Byrne JAG and COPS grant programs used by departments within the district.

This marks the second consecutive year Boutros has issued a National Police Week statement since assuming the role of U.S. Attorney. The practice follows a pattern established by prior U.S. Attorneys in the district and by counterparts in other judicial districts who similarly use the May observance to document formal appreciation without altering enforcement operations.

The Department of Justice coordinates the broader National Police Week calendar each year under authority delegated from the President’s annual proclamation.