[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14876]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         IN RECOGNITION OF THE BLACK SHIELD POLICE ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Black 
Shield Police Association, BSPA, an organization of dedicated minority 
police officers that are committed to serving our communities 
throughout the Greater Cleveland area.
  The BSPA was originally founded in 1946 as the Shield Club, which was 
designed to assist black officers in maintaining and strengthening 
self-esteem within an atmosphere of indifference. The Shield Club was a 
social club for black officers who were, at the time, prohibited from 
joining organizations that were for white police officers. In 1969, the 
Shield Club was officially chartered as a non-profit organization and 
was the third oldest black police organization in the U.S. The Shield 
Club officially became the Black Shield Police Association in 1978. By 
2000, the National Black Police Association expanded to an 
international organization with members in the United Kingdom, Canada 
and the Bahamas. The BSPA supports the philosophy of community 
policing, the calls for a true and cooperative partnership between the 
community and the police for safer communities.
  The Black Shield Police Association's Annual Dinner and Dance 
Scholarship Awards Banquet is being held at Cleveland's Doubletree 
Hotel on October 13, 2012. The theme of this year's event is ``Still 
moving FORWARD while celebrating 66 years of Unity.'' Special tributes 
will be made to retirees Lieutenant John Cole, Sergeant Hughleam 
Medlea, Sergeant Andre Douglas, Sergeant Randall Bergeon, Police 
Officer Eugene Preston, Police Officer Arthur Fantroy, Police Officer 
Sandra Robertson, Police Officer Kevin Martin and Police Officer Paul 
Jones.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing the Black 
Shield Police Association and its important role in the Greater 
Cleveland community.

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