This ceremony, was cited as a “presentation of victory medals from war veterans to Police Department.” It is unclear if this ceremony honored those veterans who served during the war and then came home to return to the Police Department, or if these were victory medals presented to the entire Police Department.
Once war broke out, many officers joined the military and as the city swelled with war-time workers,the Police Department struggled with fewer officers and more large security concerns, including guarding key pieces of infrastructure.
The officers assembled facing the steps are standing in the area which is the future site of the D.C. Police Memorial we are building.