Being a good police officer is one of the most difficult, dangerous, (and) idealistic jobs in the world.
Thomas Hauser
When an officer puts on their badge in the morning, they don’t know if they’ll be able to take it off at night. And sadly, many pay the ultimate price each year serving to protect our communities. There were 458 deaths in 2021, alone.
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The American Police Hall of Fame and Museum was founded in 1960 by Gerald Arenberg, a police officer injured in the line of duty in 1955 by a drunk driver. It is the nation’s first national law enforcement museum and memorial dedicated to officers killed in the line of duty. It houses nearly 11,000 artifacts and interactive displays. One of the Museum’s missions is to educate the public about the history and current trends in law enforcement while honoring the men and women in uniform.
Artifacts and exhibits range from police cars and motorcycles, some of which are featured in films and television shows. Replicas of a jail cell, electric chair, and gas chamber. Uniform pieces and decommissioned firearms and other tools used by officers. Other displays explain the forensic science and techniques behind solving crimes. Many of these are interactive and allow you a hands-on experience to test your crime-fighting abilities.
Throughout the Hall are memorials to officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Each has the story of the officer and what happened to them. There is also a memorial dedicated to the 403 first responders who selflessly gave their lives on September 11th, 2001. Debris from the World Trade Center rests at the foot of this moving tribute to their bravery.
join the journey as we walk the American Police hall of fame museum
The Memorial
But at the center of the Museum is the 2000 sqft Memorial Rotunda etched with over 10,000 names of fallen Officers, much like the Vietnam “Wall” in Washington, D.C. The names are added to the wall once a year before Law Enforcement Memorial Day. Photos, flowers, and other items are left on the floor by friends and families of the fallen officer. The names are from the founding of the Museum and Memorial in 1960 and forward. To honor those who have died before 1960, a digital project is in the works to recognize all police officers killed in the line of duty.
Any officer made aware to the Memorial where a line of duty death is confirmed, is eligible to be engraved in the Rotunda. If you know someone who should be honored on the wall or in the digital project, you are encouraged to contact the Memorial directly.
Planning Your Visit To The American Police Hall of Fame and Museum
The Hall of Fame and Museum is about 40 miles East of Orlando, at 6350 Horizon Drive in Titusville, Florida.
Admission (at the time of writing): Adults: $15.00, Children Under 4 – FREE, Children (Ages 4 – 12): $10.00, Military, AAA & Senior Citizens: $12.00, Law Enforcement Officers: $5.00, Family Survivors: $2.00
Hours of Operation: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Nearby Attractions
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. This is the visitor center for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center located on Merritt Island, Florida, featuring exhibits, historic spacecraft, memorabilia from America’s space program, and bus tours to the spaceport.
- American Space Museum. In Downtown Titusville you will find this museum featuring artifacts donated by individuals, astronauts, NASA, and other space contracting companies.
- Florida Surf Museum. In Cocoa Beach you will find this unique museum documenting the history and culture of Florida’s surfing community. It is located in the Ron Jon Surf Shop Watersports Rental building.
