[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 68 (Monday, April 28, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3447-S3448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 537--COMMEMORATING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEDICATION
AND SACRIFICE MADE BY THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES WHILE
SERVING AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Mr. Specter, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Durbin, and Mr.
Kohl) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 537
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.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, 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.
[[Page S3448]]
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
Sate 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
U.S., 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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