July 6, 1998
 
PRESIDENT SIGNS TWO MAJOR LAW ENFORCEMENT BILLS INTO LAW!

BULLETPROOF VEST PARTNERSHIP GRANT ACT & CARE FOR POLICE SURVIVORS ACT 
 
On June 16, 1998, President Clinton signed into law two of NAPO’s top legislative priorities from the 105th Congress:  the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act, and the Care for Police Survivors Act.  NAPO representatives were present during the White House bill-signing ceremony when President Clinton said, “The line of fire will always be a dangerous place.  But today, we’re making it less dangerous for those who are brave enough to walk that line.  Every day, all of you in uniform protect us.  It’s good to know that every once in a while there’s something those of us on this end of the line can do to help protect you.”

As reported to you in the last edition of the Washington Report, during NAPO’s annual Legal Rights and Legislative Seminar April 18-21, 1998, our members in attendance spent a day making congressional visits and lobbying for the swift passage of these bills.  NAPO wishes to congratulate those members whose efforts led to additional co-sponsors and congressional support of these bills.

The Bulletproof Vest Grant Partnership Act creates a new program to be administered by the U.S. Department of Justice.  The program assists State and local authorities and Indian tribes in providing bulletproof vests to their officers.

For fiscal years 1999-2001, $25 million has been authorized for each year to provide up to 50% of the costs of the vests.

The Care for Police Survivors Act makes two important amendments to the Public Safety Officers Benefits Act, which was signed into law more than 20 years ago.  The Act requires the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to spend at least $150,000 to enhance national peer support and counseling services for the families of fallen officers and to address the current backlog of cases still pending by the Public Safety Officers Benefits Office.

NAPO UPDATE ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT (H.R. 2755, S. 1525)

The Public Safety Officers Educational Assistance Act has passed the Senate, and now awaits passage by the House.  The House of Representatives is away on Independence Day recess from June 26-July 13, 1998.  NAPO hopes to see the bill go into mark up in the House Subcommittee on Crime before the August recess which is scheduled for August 10-September 8, 1998.

As reported to you earlier, the Public Safety Officers Educational Assistance Act would expand on a bill introduced in the 104th Congress by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA).  The “Federal Law Enforcement Dependents Assistance Act of 1996,” S. 2101, provides educational assistance to the dependents of federal law enforcement officers who are killed or disabled in the performance of their duties.  It is known as the Degan bill, in memory of Deputy U.S. Marshal William Degan who was shot and killed in 1992 during the Ruby Ridge incident.  The Degan bill was signed into law in October 1996.

The Public Safety Officers Educational Assistance Act will expand the Degan bill to provide financial assistance for higher education to the dependents of Federal, State and local public safety officers who are killed or permanently and totally disabled as the result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty.

On October 9, 1997, during a White House Rose Garden Ceremony honoring the 1997 TOP COPS Awards? winners, NAPO received national attention for our efforts to introduce the Public Safety Officers Educational Assistance Act of 1998 when President Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno announced their support.

NAPO will continue to lobby the House of Representatives to pass H.R. 2755, and will keep you updated on our progress.

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME MARKS UP TWO BILLS IMPORTANT TO NAPO

On June 19, 1998, the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Crime marked up two bills of interest to NAPO.  The “Public Safety Officers Medal of Valor Act of 1998,” H.R. 4090, sponsored by Committee Chairman Bill McCollum (R-FL) is particularly near and dear to NAPO’s heart, as evidenced by our TOP COPS Awards® program.  If H.R. 4090 is passed into law, Congress would be successful in establishing a Medal of Valor for public safety officers.  NAPO supports this positive recognition of our nation’s finest.

The second bill that underwent markup on June 19, 1998 was the “Community Protection Act of 1997,” H.R. 218.  NAPO has been on record since the 103rd Congress as supporting this legislation, which would allow both active and retired law enforcement officers to carry their weapons, on or off duty, across state lines, provided that they possess the minimal qualifications to carry a gun and are not currently under the care of a doctor for psychological problems.

As you know, this has been one of NAPO’s top legislative priorities, and we have lobbied for its passage for many years.  However, while in markup, Chairman Bill McCollum (R-FL) offered an amendment that would give this same type of privilege to citizens.  Unfortunately, it is the Executive Director’s opinion that adding this amendment to H.R. 218, will present a serious obstacle to the passage of this bill in Congress.

Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) has expressed his willingness to include a right to carry amendment to S. 10, the “Violent and Repeat Juvenile Offender Act of 1997.”  However, S. 10 is currently stalled in the Senate, and there are very few working days left to debate the bill.

NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ RIGHTS CENTER UPDATE

On June 29, 1998, NAPO’s National Law Enforcement Officers’ Rights Center (NLEORC) filed an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of law enforcement officers in the case of Patrick Knowles v. State of Iowa.  This case involves Fourth Amendment vehicular search and seizure rights.  The outcome will have a direct bearing on the authority of law enforcement officers to protect themselves and the public by conducting a search for weapons whenever they stop a motor vehicle for a traffic violation and issue a citation instead of making an arrest.

For a copy of the brief, please contact the NAPO office.

NAPO GEARING UP FOR 20th ANNUAL CONVENTION!

Excitement is in the air for the 20th Annual Convention of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), July 29-August 2, 1998 at the Double Tree Hotel in Columbia River in Portland, Oregon.  The convention is hosted this year by NAPO member organization, the Portland Police Association.

Convention attendees will be on hand to help us celebrate our 20th anniversary.  Topics to be discussed include U.S. Supreme Court cases affecting law enforcement, “The Boston Experience:  Cops Can Control Their Own Destiny,” the future of collective bargaining in the public sector, new technology for law enforcement, and a review of Federal legislation, among other topics.

TOP COPS® SELECTED FOR 1998

The 1998 TOP COPS® have been selected by the awards committee.  At the time of this printing, the TOP COPS® are being notified and signing their consent forms.  A press release announcing the winners will be issued shortly.

Mark your calendars and join us for the Fifth Annual TOP COPS Awards® on October 8, 1998 in Washington, DC.  For more details, contact the NAPO office.

NEW NATIONAL PRESIDENT FOR CONCERNS OF POLICE SURVIVORS, INC.

In June, Debbie Geary of Cooper City, Florida took the helm as President of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (COPS), a national non-profit organization that addresses the needs of surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

President Geary first became involved with COPS when her husband, David Strzalkowski of the Metro Dade (FL) Police Department died in the line of duty on November 28, 1988, in an incident that also claimed the life of Metro Dade Officer Richard Boles.  Debbie was pregnant with their second child at the time of her husband’s death.  Debbie organized the South Florida Chapter of COPS and served as chapter president before joining the COPS National Board in May 1996.  NAPO member John Rivera, President of the Dade County PBA, has worked extensively with Ms. Geary and predicts that she will be one of the best presidents that COPS has ever had.  “She made our Chapter an incredible force.  She is a very dedicated person,” said Rivera.

NAPO MEMBERS FINISH BIKE TREK
(Reprinted from Crime Control Digest – June 12, 1998)

Two police officers who are members of NAPO through the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association (BPPA), wrapped up a cross-country bike trek June 5, raising $25,000 for families of officers killed in the line of duty.  Tim Connolly, 33, of Boston, and Paul Donahue, 48, of Walpole, left Seattle on May 4, and rode through 17 different states before finishing the trip in Boston.  “Since I’ve been an officer, I’ve been to six funerals for officers,” Connolly said in a telephone interview after finishing the trip.  “Any of those guys could have been me.”  The money, donated by officers, corporations and others, will be given to the Concerns of Police Survivors, a national organization that helps officers and their families.  The pair averaged 130 miles a day, Connolly said.

WELCOME ABOARD!

The Anchorage Police Department Employees Association has affiliated with NAPO, adding 320 new law enforcement officers to NAPO’s growing membership.  “Through NAPO’s leadership in Washington, DC, the voice of law enforcement will truly be heard.  We look forward to fighting for the rights of law enforcement officers here in Anchorage and across the nation on the federal level with NAPO’s help,” said Sergeant Rob Heun, ADPEA’s president.  “NAPO welcomes the Anchorage Police Department Employees Association.  I look forward to representing their interests here in the nation’s capital and working together with them on our top legislative priorities,” said Robert T. Scully, NAPO’s executive director.