NAPO Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: JODY COUSER
December 1, 1998
(202) 842-3560
December 1, 1998
NAPO SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR SIXTH ANNUAL TOP COPS AWARDS® DEADLINE MAY 15, 1999
WASHINGTON, DC - The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO)
is accepting nominations for the Sixth Annual TOP COPS Awards®. The largest and oldest
national ceremony of its kind recognizing federal, state and local officers from across
the country, the TOP COPS Awards® honor officers for outstanding service to their
communities during the preceding year.
TOP COPS® are nominated by fellow officers and are selected from hundreds of
nominations by an independent Awards Committee. One winner from each state, the District
of Columbia and U.S. territories is chosen and from among those selections, ten are
singled out to receive the TOP COPS Award® while the remaining are presented Honorable
Mention Awards.
In October 1994, NAPO held its First Annual TOP COPS Awards® ceremony with special
guest President Clinton and Master of Ceremonies John Walsh, host of "America's Most
Wanted." The 1995 and 1996 Awards included keynote speaker Vice President Gore and
Masters of Ceremony, Lynne Russell of CNN's "Headline News" and Richard Belzer
of NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street." Lynne Russell and Richard Belzer
returned to emcee the 1997 and 1998 TOP COPS Awards® as well.
"It is so important to NAPO that law enforcement officers get the positive
attention in the national media that they truly deserve," said Robert T. Scully,
NAPO's executive director. "It had always been a priority of NAPO to set up a program
such as the TOP COPS Awards® that would recognize law enforcement officers for their
selfless acts of courage," continued Scully.
Law enforcement officers may nominate their peers who they believe made an extra effort
to fight crime and protect the public between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 1998 by
submitting a summary of the incident limited to 500 words and supporting documents such as
newspaper articles and police reports (if any). Regrettably, supporting documents cannot
be returned. The following information must be supplied about the nominee and the
nominating officer: title, full name, department, precinct address, work phone, home phone
and fax. Nominations should be sent to NAPO, 750 First Street, NE, Suite 920, Washington,
DC 20002. The deadline for nominations for the Sixth Annual TOP COPS Awards® is May 15,
1999.
Proceeds from the event benefit the National Law Enforcement Officers' Rights Center,
the Police Research and Education Project (PREP), NAPO's 501 (c)(3) educational
organization, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the Concerns of
Police Survivors.
The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of police
unions and associations from across the United States that serves to advance the interests
of America's law enforcement officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political
action and education. Founded in 1978, NAPO now represents more than 4,000 police unions
and associations, 250,000 sworn law enforcement officers, 3,000 retired officers and
more than 100,000 citizens who share a common dedication to fair and effective crime
control and law enforcement.
For more information, please contact Jody Couser (202) 842-3560.