PREP 

The Police Research & Education Project

MISSION STATEMENT - CFC# 0423

The Police Research and Education Project (PREP) was established by the National Association of Police Organizations in 1991. Through PREP, our mission is to promote, through research and education, the well-being of police officers and their families, and to educate and inform the public about law enforcement and the role of law enforcement officers in a democratic society.

PREP is the sister organization of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), representing 238,000 rank and file law enforcement officers from 2,000 member police associations and unions throughout the country.

In 1994, PREP launched the National Law Enforcement Officers Rights Center to serve as a legal defense fund for police officers and their attorneys. The Rights Center serves as a clearinghouse for information, conducts research and holds educational seminars for law enforcement officers. The Rights Center files briefs amicus curiae on behalf of law enforcement officers including numerous briefs to the United States Supreme Court.

PREP was awarded two grants from the National Institute of Justice to study and provide training for officers and their families regarding stress management. In 1994, NAPO held its first annual TOP COPS Awards® ceremony on Washington, D.C. with special guest President Clinton and Master of Ceremonies John Walsh, host of "America's Most Wanted." Vice President Gore participated in 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2000. The Masters of Ceremonies for 1995 through 2000 have been Richard Belzer of NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and Lynne Russell of CNN's "Headline News." John Walsh has returned to host our program from 2001 to 2006. The TOP COPS Awards®, given annually to outstanding officers from across the country who are nominated by their peers for service to their communities, has drawn numerous television celebrities, members of Congress and high-ranking law enforcement officials each year since its inception.