[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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