In May 2011, POAT initiated Project Hero - Honor Every Resting Officer (HERO). The goal of Project HERO was to honor officers killed in the line of duty at their resting location.  POAT recognizes the importance of honoring those who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of making our communities a safer place to reside.  For the last six years, the officers were honored from May 1st through May 31st.  During this period United States and Eternal Blue Line flags were placed at each grave or crypt.  Grave markers, labeled Police Officer and in the shape of police badges, proudly held the flags in place. The month of May is the national month to remember the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers in the United States.  A total of 1,424 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the past 10 years, an average of one death every 61 hours or 142 per year.  There were 135 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2016. We invite the media to join us as we depart from the Miami-Dade Police Department, Headquarters Complex.