[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[September 30, 1992]
[Pages 1717-1718]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 1717]]


Remarks to the Law Enforcement Community in Newark, New Jersey
September 30, 1992

    The President. Thank you all so very much. I mean, this is a 
tremendous event. I just can't tell you how much I appreciate the 
support of these men and women standing here. It transcends me 
personally. I think the fact is that this country must strongly support 
our law enforcement people. And I am grateful for this endorsement.
    Let me just say that all of these organizations are important, the 
endorsement of the members of the New Jersey law enforcement community: 
the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police; the Newark Policemen's 
Benevolent Association; New Jersey State Fraternal Association 
representatives that are here; representatives of the New Jersey 
Sheriffs Association and groups from Newark to Nutley, Glen Ridge, East 
Orange, Bloomfield, Belleville, Verona, Port Authority, Essex County; 
police, jails and prosecutors office; Union County and Montclair to the 
Morris County sheriff's office. And that's a fine endorsement, I'll tell 
you. I treasure them all and the support of these individuals.
    I think we would all agree that keeping America's neighborhoods safe 
and secure is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of 
government. It takes a tough, no-nonsense approach, one that puts our 
sympathy with the victims of crime, not with the criminals. After all, 
hard time is what criminals should get, not the innocent kids and older 
Americans who have to live in fear of violence. In this election, the 
candidates both are talking tough on crime, but just one is taking 
action. All I'm going to ask the American people to do between now and 
November is to look at the record.
    Arkansas ranks near the bottom in every important per capita law 
enforcement expenditures: for prisons, 46th; judicial and legal systems, 
50th; and when it comes to spending for police officers, Arkansas ranks 
49th. Since 1989, my administration has proposed a 59-percent increase 
in Federal spending to fight crime.
    Here is another snapshot of the situation in Arkansas: Last year 
under Governor Clinton, Arkansas' criminals on average served just one-
fifth of their sentence before they were back on the street. They did 
the crime, and they serve one-fifth of the time. That is not right. 
That's not protection for every family in this country. The Federal 
situation, the area under my control: Inmates who fall under my 
jurisdiction serve an average of 85 percent of their full sentence. And 
I'm not too happy of that; I would like to see it 100 in most of those 
cases.
    But anyway, crime is one more issue where the Governor of Arkansas 
can't talk his way past his record. If you want to know who's really 
tough on crime, take a look at the people that are out there risking 
their lives for you and me every single day of their lives. Take a look 
at the people on the front lines. Take the Fraternal Order of Police 
down in Little Rock, for example. They lived with Bill Clinton for 12 
years, and they know his record best. And they have endorsed George Bush 
for President of the United States.
    Let me remind some of these officers of something some of them know 
and then might be new to some others. For 4 years I've kept a badge, a 
police badge, and I brought it along with me. I keep this in the desk in 
the Oval Office. I'm sure you've seen pictures of the President's desk 
on the television. This is number 14072 of the New York police force, 
city of New York. And I was given this by Police Lieutenant Matt Byrne. 
He gave it to me. It's the badge that his son Eddie wore the day he was 
gunned down by a gang of crackheads. And as Matt asked, I have kept that 
badge as a reminder of all the brave police officers who put their 
lives, put your lives, on the line for us every single day.
    And yes, I'm grateful for this endorsement, these many endorsements, 
but it transcends that. You have my thanks for your service to your 
country. You have my

[[Page 1718]]

support. You're on the side of the law, and I am on your side. With your 
strong support, I am absolutely convinced that we can make dramatic 
progress, more progress turning back the threat of drugs and crime, 
making our communities more safe and more secure. We talk of 
strengthening family. One way to strengthen family is give the families 
neighborhoods that are free of these criminals. That's what these people 
with me here today do every single day of their lives. And I am very, 
very grateful, grateful for this vote of confidence.
    May God bless the men who wear the badge and the women who wear the 
badge and serve our great country. Thank you very much. Thank you all.
    Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

                    Note: The President spoke at 5:42 p.m. at Newark 
                        International Airport.