Law Enforcement Appreciation Day 2027 — Date & Facts

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day 2027 — Overview

In 2027, Law Enforcement Appreciation Day falls on Saturday, January 9. It is a national observance in the United States dedicated to honoring police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and all law enforcement professionals who serve their communities. The day is not a federal public holiday — schools, banks, and government offices remain open on January 9, 2027. It is also commonly searched for under related names, including National Police Officer Day, Officer Appreciation Day, and Police Appreciation Day.

January 2027 observance at a glance:

• Saturday, January 9, 2027 — Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (LEAD)
• Type: National observance (not a federal public holiday)
• Also known as: LEAD Day, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, National Law Enforcement Day, National Police Officer Day, Officer Appreciation Day, Police Appreciation Day, Police Officer Appreciation Day
• Founded: 2015 by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)

What Is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day?

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (LEAD) is a national initiative held annually on January 9 to recognize the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers across the United States. It was established in 2015 by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), a nonprofit organization that supports families of officers killed in the line of duty.

The observance encourages the public to show appreciation for local police officers and sheriff’s departments through simple gestures — from social media posts to gift cards for coffee — and to acknowledge the difficult and often dangerous nature of law enforcement work. Nationally, it’s the same underlying event that shows up in search under several names — National Police Officer Day, Officer Appreciation Day, and Police Appreciation Day — but the official title and founding organization remain LEAD and C.O.P.S.

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day 2027 — Key Facts

Detail	Information
Date in 2027	Saturday, January 9, 2027
Day of the week	Saturday
Type	National observance
Federal holiday?	No
Founded	2015
Founded by	Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)
Also known as	LEAD Day, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, National Police Officer Day, Officer Appreciation Day, Police Appreciation Day
Annual date	Always January 9

Is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day a Public Holiday?

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is not a federal public holiday in the United States in 2027. January 9 is a regular working day (or weekend, depending on the year). In 2027, it falls on a Saturday.

Banks, schools, and government offices follow their normal Saturday schedules. However, many police departments and sheriff’s offices hold recognition ceremonies, and communities across the country participate in organized appreciation events.

History of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was created in January 2015 by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), following a period of heightened tension between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. The date of January 9 was chosen to align with the start of the new year and to give communities an annual moment to reflect on and recognize the role of police in public safety.

Since its founding, LEAD has grown into a nationwide movement supported by law enforcement agencies, civic organizations, and businesses across all 50 states. The official color of LEAD is blue, in reference to the “Thin Blue Line” symbol of law enforcement.

Is There a Separate Law Enforcement Appreciation Week?

Yes — but it is a different observance from LEAD Day, held in May rather than January. Congress designated the calendar week containing May 15 as National Police Week (also called Police Appreciation Week or Law Enforcement Appreciation Week) in a 1962 joint resolution signed by President Kennedy, with May 15 itself marked as Peace Officers Memorial Day. In 2027, since May 15 falls on a Saturday, National Police Week runs Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 15, 2027. It focuses on remembering officers who died in the line of duty, centered on ceremonies in Washington, D.C., including the Candlelight Vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

How to Observe Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

Communities mark January 9 through a mix of individual gestures and organized events, from thank-you notes to official proclamations. Here’s how people typically take part:

Individual Ways to Show Appreciation

• Write a thank-you note or card to a local police officer or sheriff’s department
• Share a message of support on social media using the hashtag #LEAD
• Bring coffee, donuts, or a meal to a local police station
• Wear blue on January 9 in solidarity with law enforcement

Community and Business Participation

• Organize a community appreciation event at a local police precinct
• Offer police officer discounts at restaurants and retail stores on January 9
• Schools can invite local officers to speak to students about their work and community role
• Local governments can issue official proclamations recognizing Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

Important Dates in January 2027

Date	Observance	Type
January 1, 2027	New Year’s Day	Federal public holiday
January 6, 2027	Epiphany (Three Kings Day)	Religious / cultural observance
January 7, 2027	Orthodox Christmas Day	Religious observance
January 8, 2027	Battle of New Orleans Anniversary	Historical commemoration
January 9, 2027	Law Enforcement Appreciation Day	National observance
January 15, 2027	Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Federal public holiday
January 19, 2027	National Popcorn Day	Food observance
January 20, 2027	Inauguration Day 2027	Civic event
January 21, 2027	National Hugging Day	Cultural observance
January 24, 2027	National Compliment Day	Cultural observance
January 25, 2027	Opposite Day	Fun observance
January 27, 2027	Holocaust Remembrance Day	International observance (UNESCO)
January 28, 2027	National Puzzle Day	Cultural observance

Working Calendar — January 2027 USA

January 2027 has 21 working days (Monday to Friday), reduced to 19 effective working days due to two federal holidays:

• Federal holidays: January 1 (New Year’s Day), January 15 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) — 2 days
• Effective working days: 19
• Weekend days: 10
• Long weekends: MLK Day weekend (January 15–17)

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day falls on a Saturday, January 9, 2027 — a non-working day for most employees.

Download the January 2027 Calendar — Free PDF

Download the free printable January 2027 calendar for the United States, with Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, MLK Day, and all key dates highlighted.

Available formats:

• PDF with US holidays (A4 and US Letter)
• PDF without holidays (blank)
• PNG image (with and without holidays)
• DOCX (editable Word format)
• XLSX (editable Excel format)

Download January 2027 calendar — free PDF

Frequently Asked Questions About Law Enforcement Appreciation Day 2027

When is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in 2027?

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in 2027 falls on Saturday, January 9, 2027. The date is fixed every year at January 9.

Is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day a federal holiday in the USA?

No. Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is not a federal public holiday in the United States. It is a national observance. Banks, schools, and government offices are not required to close on January 9.

Who created Law Enforcement Appreciation Day?

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was founded in 2015 by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), a nonprofit organization that provides support to the families and co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

What does LEAD stand for?

LEAD stands for Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. It is the official abbreviation used by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and participating organizations across the United States.

Is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day the same as Police Appreciation Day or Officer Appreciation Day?

Yes, in practice. “Police Appreciation Day,” “Officer Appreciation Day,” and “National Police Officer Day” are commonly used alternate names for the same January 9 observance. There is no separate, competing event under those titles — they all refer to LEAD.

When is Law Enforcement Appreciation Week?

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (January 9) should not be confused with National Police Week, held every May around Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15). In 2027, National Police Week runs May 9–15. It was established by Congress in 1962 and focuses on honoring officers who died in the line of duty, separate from the January 9 observance.

How can I participate in Law Enforcement Appreciation Day 2027?

You can participate by writing a thank-you note to a local officer, wearing blue on January 9, sharing a message of support on social media using #LEAD, or bringing coffee or a meal to a local police station. Businesses can offer officer discounts, and community organizations can host appreciation events.

How many federal holidays are there in January 2027 in the USA?

There are 2 federal public holidays in January 2027 in the United States: New Year’s Day (January 1) and Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15). Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on January 9 is a national observance, not a federal holiday.

What is the next federal holiday after Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in 2027?

The next federal public holiday after Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (January 9, 2027) is Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 15, 2027.

---

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day 2027 falls on Saturday, January 9 — the same fixed date every year. Founded in 2015 by Concerns of Police Survivors, LEAD is a nationwide observance that gives communities across the United States an opportunity to honor and thank local law enforcement professionals. While it is not a federal public holiday in 2027, the day is widely recognized with events, gestures of appreciation, and social media campaigns using #LEAD.

For the full list of US holidays and observances in January 2027, see the complete 2027 US public holidays calendar. You can also download the February 2027 calendar.