    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [May 13, 1993]
    [Pages 654-656]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Ceremony
    May 13, 1993

        Thank you very much, Senator DeConcini, Chairman Floyd, President
    Young, law enforcement officers, and survivors of our fallen brothers
    and sisters.
        America has more than half a million law enforcement officers who
    serve proudly and bravely. And every day they carry out their sworn
    duties, risk is a constant companion. No one knows that better than
    those of you who are here tonight and your families. But I can say that
    there are very few Americans who owe more to law enforcement officers
    than do I. I'm proud to be joined here tonight by three people who have
    a very important role in the protection of the American people and who
    have an important role in my administration and my life. I'd like to
    acknowledge them if I might: the Director of the United States Secret
    Service, whose members put their lives on the line for the President
    every day, Mr. John McGaw; the Director of the Office of National Drug
    Policy and formerly the police chief of the cities of Atlanta, Houston,
    and New York, Mr. Lee Brown; and Senator DeConcini just mentioned

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    the Attorney General, formerly the prosecutor of Dade County, Florida,
    Ms. Janet Reno, who just came in. She's somewhere here. I like
    introducing these people.
        I'd also like to thank very much the survivors from Arkansas who
    came here with me tonight, as well as the law enforcement officials, in
    particular, the two members of the Arkansas State Police, who for a
    dozen years worked with me and protected me and my family and stood up
    to unbelievable pressures from radical fringe groups, from organized
    rioters, from serious organized criminal efforts, and the day-to-day
    hazards of law enforcement. I owe them all a great deal, and I'm glad
    they're here tonight.
        More than 13,000 law enforcement officials have fallen in the line
    of duty. This memorial was dedicated to them a year and a half ago.
    Tonight we note the names of 328 more who will be newly etched on these
    marble stones. But our tribute will ring hollow tonight unless we
    recommit ourselves to do whatever we can to keep the remainder of these
    stones as smooth as possible, to support the men and women who keep our
    society more lawful and our lives more secure, to help them as
    enforcers, and to keep them from becoming victims.
        Collectively, we call them our Thin Blue Line. That line is nothing
    less than our buffer against chaos, against the worst impulses of this
    society, a shield we may not always think about until it is raised in
    our own defense. The safety of our citizens in their homes, where they
    work, where they play, it all depends on that Thin Blue Line. And so it
    behooves us all to reinforce that line, to make it as strong as we can.
        Let us be honest with one another. We know that nothing we do will
    remove all risk from law enforcement, but we can take steps that will
    make the profession safer and make ourselves safer as well. We could do
    that by passing the Brady bill. The American people want it; law
    enforcement officers have called for it for years. It will save lives,
    and it would be a tribute to those we honor here tonight.
        We can also do that by increasing the number of law enforcement
    officers on the street. Just a generation ago there were three officers
    for every serious crime in this country. Today there are three crimes
    for every officer. It makes police work more dangerous. It makes it more
    difficult to implement strategies that work like community policing. It
    makes society less safe. Let us do more to put police officers on the
    street, and that will be a tribute to those whom we come here to honor
    tonight.
        Last year Federal, State, and law enforcement officers were killed
    in substantial numbers, but they say that fewer were killed than at any
    year since the mid-1960's. Still, one is too many. And statistics, the
    numbers like 120 people being killed in the line of duty by violent
    means, they belie the real human stories.
        In my State, a 74-year-old sheriff's deputy was beaten to death.
    That's more than an assault on a law enforcement officer; it's an
    affront to our common humanity. That officer, R.D. Purifoy, was from a
    little county next to the one where I was born in Arkansas. He was so
    dedicated that any time, day or night, for 26 years, he was always there
    to answer the call. And on the day he died last November, he was simply
    trying to settle a domestic quarrel.
        Then there was Jerry Stallings, a police officer from Barling,
    Arkansas, in the western part of my State, whose family is here tonight.
    He was investigating an auto accident when he was struck by a drunk
    driver. It should have been a routine investigation, but as every law
    enforcement officer knows, there's no such thing as a routine
    investigation.
        Tonight we honor these men and their families. We honor all those
    who have fallen throughout our Nation as they carried out their duties
    to make our lives better and safer: from the officers on the beat and
    the street, to the patrols on the highways, to the Federal agents in all
    fields. Tonight we light the darkness with the memories and glories of
    those who died in the service of their neighbors, their communities, and
    our Nation. Their brave souls are among us; they are carried brightly in
    our hearts in gratitude, in joy, in sorrow, yes, but also in the
    certainty that God looks after those who give such a full measure of
    their devotion.
        We honor these valiant men and women not for dying, because death
    comes to us all eventually. We honor them for how they died and how they
    lived. In life they gave us aid when we were helpless, shielded us when
    we were vulnerable, lifted us when we had fallen, gave us comfort when
    we were afraid. In rooting out our lawless, they preserved our order.
    They were our fathers and sons, our brothers and sisters, our mothers
    and daughters. They were our friends.
        Their contribution cannot be measured nor

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    properly honored by their President or any other citizen except to say a
    simple thank you and to give a prayer to God for their souls. They will
    be remembered as all of you knew them, standing tall and ready, the
    sentinels of our liberty. Let us live in ways that will honor their
    ultimate contribution to our lives.
        Thank you, and God bless you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:40 p.m. at the memorial. In his remarks,
    he referred to Craig Floyd, chairman, National Law Enforcement Officers
    Memorial Fund, and Kathleen A. Young, president, Concerns of Police
    Survivors.