The Reno Police Department says the City of Reno will turn the downtown Reno Arch blue in honor of National Law Enforcement Memorial Month on Wednesday.

The event is at 7 p.m. and will be free and open to the public.

They said the arch will remain blue throughout the month of May. It will also coincide with National Police Week in Washington DC happening on May 13 until May 19.

Other local events for this month include:

  • Nevada Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony, May 2 at the Nevada State Capitol from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. It will honor officers killed in the line of duty in the state of Nevada since 1861.
  • James D. Hoff Memorial Ceremony, May 3 at Idlewild Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. This event marks the 40th anniversary of James Hoff's death, and was the first state memorial recognizing police officers killed in the line of duty.

The purpose of shining blue lights this month is to send a message to support America's law enforcement officers. It was started by Project Blue Light in 1988, when the mother-in-law of a Philadelphia police officer put blue lights in her window during the holidays to honor her son-in-law who died in the line of duty.