Leahy Introduces Resolution
Honoring Nation’s Law Enforcement Officers
WASHINGTON (Monday, April 28,
2008) – Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy today introduced a
resolution honoring law enforcement officers across the country
for their hard work and sacrifice while keeping the public
safe. The resolution designates May 15, 2008, as Peace Officers
Memorial Day, and urges Congress to continue supporting the
nation’s law enforcement officers and the initiatives that keep
law enforcement officers safe.
More than 181 law enforcement
officers died in the line of duty in 2007, the most since 2001
and the tragic events of September 11. The resolution
recognizes those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, as well
as the over 900,000 men and women that continue to keep our
communities safe.
“We are fortunate in Vermont that
we rank as the State with the fewest officer deaths in history,
with 19 recorded. But of course that is still 19 deaths too
many,” said Leahy. “The pain and the suffering and the loss
associated with every one of those is difficult for anyone to
even imagine. Peace Officers Memorial Day will provide the
people of the United States, in their communities, in their
State Capitals, and in the Nation's Capital, with the
opportunity to honor and reflect on the extraordinary service
and sacrifice given year after year by our police forces.”
Leahy has been a leading supporter
of law enforcement in the Senate and was a coauthor of
legislation that has authorized millions of dollars for law
enforcement agencies across the country to buy bulletproof vests
for their officers. Since 1999, when grants for this program
were first awarded, Vermont police and sheriffs’ offices have
purchased almost 2700 vests. Leahy is a senior member of the
Senate Appropriations Committee, and earlier this year asked the
Committee to fully fund the bulletproof vests grant program. He
is also the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and is
expected to introduce legislation to reauthorize the bulletproof
vest program later this year.
This is the twelfth consecutive
year that Leahy has sponsored the Peace Officers Memorial Day
resolution.
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Statement of
Senator Patrick Leahy
On The
Introduction Of A Resolution To Honor The Sacrifices Made
By The Men And
Women Who Serve As Law Enforcement Officers
Senate Floor
April 28, 2008
National Peace
Officers Memorial Day Resolution
I am proud to submit today a
bipartisan resolution to designate May 15, 2008, as National
Peace Officers Memorial Day. Joining me in the submission of
this resolution are Senators Specter, Kennedy, Durbin, and Kohl.
We join in recognizing the sacrifices that law enforcement
officers make each day for the American people.
This is now the twelfth year that
I have been involved in offering this resolution to honor the
sacrifice and commitment of those law enforcement officers who
lost their lives serving their communities. For many years I
submitted this resolution with my old friend and our former
colleague Senator Campbell, a former deputy sheriff. Both
Senator Campbell, and I, as a former prosecutor, know well the
risks faced by law enforcement officers every day while they
serve and protect the American people.
We do not thank our Nation's law
enforcement officers enough for the sacrifices they make in
order to protect all of us. State and local police officers and
all of our first responders deserve our support and respect.
Their role is crucial in upholding the rule of law and keeping
our Nation's citizens safe and secure. They help make our
democracy possible. They are our here-at-home,
day-in-and-day-out, real-life heroes.
Currently, more than 900,000 men
and women who guard our communities do so at great risk. Since
the first recorded police death in 1792, there have been more
than 18,200 law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate
sacrifice. There is lots of talk about the war on crime. Our
law enforcement officers are all too often the casualties in
that effort.
We are fortunate in Vermont that
we rank as the State with the fewest officer deaths in history,
with 19 recorded. But of course that is still 19 deaths too
many. The pain and the suffering and the loss associated with
every one of those is difficult for anyone to even imagine.
Last year, in 2007, 181 law
enforcement officers died while serving in the line of duty.
That is a regrettable and significant increase from 2006.
Tragically, it is the most line-of-duty deaths since 2001 and
the losses from September 11 of that year.
With crime having risen during the
last few years after a decade of decline, and with law
enforcement officers’ deaths increasing, Congress must do more
to strongly support State and local law enforcement officers and
agencies. Federal programs can bolster police departments and
their support for line officers. We should help provide greater
access to bulletproof vests, state-of-the-art technology,
improved training and advanced emergency medical care. I
believe that there is strength in numbers when it comes to
fighting violent crime, and Congress owes it to all Americans to
support the men and women who are on the front lines keeping
America safe.
I am proud of the work I have been
involved in to help make it safer on the beat for our officers.
Back in 1998, Senator Campbell and I authored the Bulletproof
Vest Grant Partnership Act in response to the tragic Carl Drega
shootout on the Vermont-New Hampshire border. Two state
troopers who lacked bulletproof vests were killed. Since then,
we have successfully reauthorized this program three more times:
in the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2000, in the
State Justice Institute Reauthorization Act of 2004, and most
recently as part of the Violence Against Women and Department of
Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005. It is now authorized at
$50 million per year through fiscal year 2009 to help State,
tribal and local jurisdictions purchase armor vests for use by
law enforcement officers.
I hope all Senators will join me
to ensure that the program is fully funded for fiscal year 2009,
and will also join with me to reauthorize this important program
again this year. Bulletproof vests have saved the lives of
thousands of officers and are a fundamental line of defense that
no officer should be without. Hundreds of thousands of police
officers are counting on us.
National Peace Officers Memorial
Day will provide the people of the United States, in their
communities, in their State Capitals, and in the Nation's
Capital, with the opportunity to honor and reflect on the
extraordinary service and sacrifice given year after year by our
police forces. During the week of May 15, more than 20,000 peace
officers are expected to gather in Washington to join with the
families of their fallen comrades. I hope all Senators will
join me in honoring their service by approving this bipartisan
resolution.
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110TH
CONGRESS
2D
SESSION
S. RES.
__
Commemorating and acknowledging
the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and women who have
lost their lives while serving as law enforcement officers.
_______________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. LEAHY submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on
_______________
RESOLUTION
Commemorating and acknowledging
the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and women who have
lost their lives while serving as law enforcement officers.
Whereas the well-being of all
citizens of the United States is preserved and enhanced as a
direct result of the vigilance and dedication of law enforcement
personnel;
Whereas more than 900,000 men and
women, at great risk to their personal safety, presently serve
their fellow citizens as guardians of the peace;
Whereas peace officers are on the
front lines in protecting the schools and schoolchildren of the
United States;
Whereas 181 peace officers across
the United States were killed in the line of duty during 2007,
tragically the highest yearly total since 2001;
Whereas Congress should strongly
support initiatives to reduce violent crime and to increase the
factors that contribute to the safety of law enforcement
officers, including—
(1) better equipment and increased
use of bullet-resistant vests;
(2) improved training; and
(3) advanced emergency medical
care;
Whereas, every 2 days on average,
1 out of every 16 peace officers is assaulted, 1 out of every 56
peace officers is injured, and 1 out of every 5,500 peace
officers is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United
States; and
Whereas, on May 15, 2008, more
than 20,000 peace officers are expected to gather in Washington,
District of Columbia, to join with the families of their
recently fallen comrades to honor those comrades and all others
who went before them: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
That the Senate—
(1) recognizes May 15, 2008, as
‘‘Peace Officers Memorial Day’’, in honor of the Federal, State,
and local law enforcement officers that have been killed or
disabled in the line of duty; and
(2) calls on the people of the
United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies,
appreciation, and respect.
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