    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 31 (Monday, August 6, 2001)]
    [Pages 1116-1119]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks to the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives

    July 30, 2001

        Thank you all very much for that warm welcome. I am honored to be
    here for the 25th anniversary of NOBLE. And I want to welcome each of
    you to Washington.
        I also thank you for giving me a chance to come and talk about a
    powerful tool to help you all do your job. And that tool is stronger
    communities and the willingness for our society to welcome faith-based
    and community-based programs at the grassroots level, all aimed at
    teaching our children right from wrong; all aimed at making sure there's
    hope in every neighborhood throughout America.
        I want to thank Ida very much for her brief but meaningful
    introduction. [Laughter] I want to thank Leonard Cooke and Maurice
    Foster, as well.
        I've got to say something about Hubert Bell. [Applause] Maybe I'd
    better not, Hubert. It sounds like you're doing pretty good. [Laughter]
    But Hubert was really a part of our family for a long period of time,
    and we appreciated his service and sacrifice. He protected my mother and
    dad, for which, of course, not only is their loyal son grateful, but so
    are they. And it's great to see you, Hubert.
        Also riding with me today is a fine man who I, fortunately,
    convinced to serve our country as the Deputy Attorney General, from the
    State of Georgia, Larry Thompson. Larry, thank you for your service, as
    well.
        You've always got to say something nice about the police chief in
    the community in which you live--[laughter]--just in case. [Laughter] In
    my case, just in case the liiver drives a little too fast. [Laughter]
    But Charles, thank you for your leadership. I first saw that in action
    during the inauguration, and he did a fantastic job, and so did the men
    and women who wear the uniform here in the Nation's Capital. Thank you
    for your service.
        It's also a pleasure to be here today with many of the founding
    members of NOBLE and its membership. Thank you for giving me a chance.
        NOBLE is one of America's most effective police organizations and a
    voice for justice around our great Nation. And I want to thank you for
    that. I want to thank you for serving as a conscience in many
    communities in America.
        It's also an important part of law enforcement, the history of law
    enforcement in America. Until the sixties, few African-Americans could
    dream of wearing the policeman's uniform and badge. Even those given the
    authority of the badge sometimes did not get the respect they deserve.
    I'm told about a man named James Cherry in 1964 who became the first
    uniformed black officer in Jackson, Tennessee. And on his first house
    call to the home of a white resident, a woman opened the door and looked
    at him and said, ``I don't want you. I want the real police.''
        Fortunately, times have changed in America. Fortunately, when
    Officer Cherry shows up to the door today, people are saying, ``Thank
    you, Officer, for coming to help me. Thank you for your service.'' Folks
    in this country have realized law enforcement depends upon the
    participation of fine African men and women all across America. And I
    want to thank those officers for the commitment and the risks they take
    on a daily basis.
        And we owe you something in return. We owe you something in return
    for your service, and that's justice. And that's why I've asked the
    Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General to examine racial
    profiling. It's wrong in America, and we've got to get rid of it.
        Law enforcement is one of the great callings in our society; it
    really is. It's a noble profession. It's also one of the great success
    stories of the past decade. Last month the Justice Department reported
    that violent crime fell almost 15 percent last year alone, the largest
    drop ever recorded. Across America, law enforcement is doing its job,
    and crime is in retreat.
        Some examples of success have captured the attention of the Nation.
    When Superintendent Richard Pennington of the New Orleans Police
    Department was appointed in 1994, New Orleans was rated the most violent
    city in America. And the truth of the matter is, the police department
    had serious,

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    serious problems. The chief began by reforming the department, itself.
    He used the latest technology to track crime and built trusting
    relationships between the department and neighborhoods all throughout
    New Orleans.
        Today, 7 years after his arrival, the people of New Orleans respect
    the police department because violent crime is down 75 percent in that
    city. A leader can make a difference, Chief Pennington, and you have
    done so. And by working hard in the neighborhoods, the police department
    has earned their respect. And that's important.
        My administration must offer more than just praise, however. We must
    promote policy that provides active support for police officers around
    the country. We've begun already with Project Safe Neighborhoods. I
    don't know whether you know this or not, but the NOBLE officers helped
    write the program, helped come up with the strategy that says that we
    need to develop local partnerships all across America to enforce gun
    laws on the books. We need to spend more resources and energy in a
    coordinated way that says to people, if you carry--illegally carry a
    gun, there is a consequence; that if you think you can act out your
    frustrations by illegally carrying weapons and/or illegally using them,
    there's only one consequence: That's arrest and jail.
        And so we've put $550 million aside for 2 years, that says, let's
    have a focused, concerted effort. Let's focus our time and energy and
    efforts on ferreting out those who hold others hostage in our society,
    and stand side by side with the police officers all across America--
    arrest and prosecute and incarcerate those who illegally carry and use
    guns. It's a mission we must do to make our neighborhoods more safe. And
    I want to thank NOBLE for helping write and devise the strategy that in
    my heart of hearts I know is going to work.
        But we must have goals beyond just punishment. We must, at the
    deepest level, embrace our youth instead of fearing them. It starts with
    making sure we've got good education systems all around America. An
    educated child is one much less likely to commit a crime.
        And we're making pretty good progress here in Washington. We've got
    a bill passed out of the House and a bill passed out of the Senate, and
    one of these days, they may get together and put one on my desk--and the
    sooner, rather than later. The sooner, rather than later, because it's
    time to get some legislation out so that the local school boards and
    local districts can start the plan.
        And let me tell you the crux of the bill. I think you'll appreciate
    this. It challenges the soft bigotry of low expectations. It challenges
    the notion that there are certain children in our society who can't
    possibly learn, and therefore, let's just move them through. Let's just
    say, ``If you're 10, you're supposed to be in the fourth grade, and if
    you're 13, we'll put you here, regardless of what you may or may not
    know.'' Those days have got to end.
        What we've got to start asking of each child is, ``What do you know?
    And if you don't know what you're supposed to know, we will make sure
    you do, early, before it's too late.'' See, I believe every child can
    learn. And I believe our society must focus on accountability to make
    sure they do. And so we've got a good piece of legislation that starts
    with setting high standards, challenging that soft bigotry. It says,
    local people ought to be running the schools around America. One size
    does not fit all. But it also says that if you receive help, you must
    show us whether or not you're teaching our children to read and write
    and add and subtract. And if they were--and if they are, there will be
    thousands of hallelujahs. But if not, you must change what you're doing
    because no child in America should be left behind.
        Besides learning to read and write and add and subtract, it's so
    essential that our children learn values that defeat hostility and
    aggression, the values that will bring dignity and direction to their
    lives. We want to help them make decisions based upon character and
    conscience and integrity, not the fear of punishment.
        We must prevent crime by reclaiming lives of those who may have lost
    hope. And I believe we can do so in America. And I believe we've got a
    great chance to start here in Washington, DC. It starts with making sure
    that responsible adults are involved in the

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    lives of our children. These children need consistent, committed love
    that breaks down walls of distrust. They need a sense of belonging and
    respect from someone other than the local gang leader. These things are
    most often done by parents, no question about it. But sometimes, we must
    encourage mentors and ministers and faith healers to become actively
    involved in the lives of these young children.
        There are so many stories, all around America. Frankly, these
    stories exist not because of government but because somebody is talking
    to a higher authority; somebody has heard the call to love a neighbor
    like he or she would like to be loved themselves.
        I think, for example, of the program in Chicago called From Gangs to
    Grace. It works out of the New Life Covenant Church, which sits right in
    the middle of gang territory. The program was formed 3 years ago by
    former gang members whose lives were torn upside down because of drugs.
    One of them, a fellow, was named Pedro Munez. He spoke eloquently about
    the program. He says, ``My vocabulary has changed, and I don't curse
    anymore. I treat my family with respect. I just treat everybody with
    respect now.''
        A young man who has learned the value of respect is going to be a
    better man. He's going to honor his father and mother. He's going to
    treat young women as he should treat them. He's going to live up to his
    responsibilities. He'll serve to be a good example. There's no limit to
    what comes when you change one heart, one young man learning to learn
    because of the virtue of respect.
        Most effective police programs in America have learned the value of
    working with charities and churches and synagogues and mosques on youth
    development and crime prevention. Most of you have learned that strong
    communities and strong values make your work a lot easier. Most of you
    have been involved in the so-called faith-based initiative way before I
    proposed it to the United States Congress, and I understand that. As a
    matter of fact, much of the work that you have done that proceeded me
    here has become the basis for meaningful legislation.
        It's legislation that says to the United States Congress, let us
    fund the faith-based organizations all across America. Let's give them a
    chance to compete for Federal dollars. Let's not lock them out just
    because they have the word ``faith'' in front of their program. After
    all, faith-based initiatives and programs can change people's hearts.
    And when they change people's hearts, they change people's lives. And a
    changed life is much more likely to be a person--peaceful, respectful
    person.
        We should not fear faith in our society. We should not fear
    welcoming community groups that not necessarily have been sanctioned by
    Government, that exists as--apart from Government. We should welcome
    them. These are the soldiers in the armies of compassion. These are the
    people whose calling exists because of the church or the synagogue or
    the mosque, but people who are intent upon helping young people make the
    right choices in life.
        You know, it's amazing, as I travel around the country I hear from
    people at the grassroots level who have gotten the message. Sometimes it
    seems like, to me, the word hadn't quite gotten up to Washington, DC,
    and it's time for Congress to pass legislation to rally the faith-based
    programs, so they can stand side by side with those folks in the
    community who are trying to bring peace and law and order, the people
    who wear the uniform.
        A bill came out of the House of Representatives the other day, and I
    had a good meeting with Senator Lieberman and Senator Santorum, talking
    about making sure that the faith-based initiative continues its
    momentum. It's the right thing to do for America. It is the next step
    beyond welfare. It is a way to recognize there are still people who are
    hopeless, people who need help. And it's making sure the American Dream
    extends its reach in all neighborhoods.
        We must call upon all folks, all people who are willing to help
    change lives in a positive way. Listen, this is a great country, and the
    reason it's a great country is because it's full of so many decent and
    honorable and loving citizens. It's a great country because there's love
    in a lot of people's hearts. It's a great country, and we must rally the
    greatness of the country, and that's our people. And it's a great
    country, as well, because there are

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    thousands of people who are willing to serve a concept greater than
    themselves in life. And there's no greater concept in life than to try
    to bring peace to neighborhoods. There's no greater concept than to take
    risk, like the men and women who wear the uniform do on a daily basis.
        And so I'm here to thank you for your work. I'm here to tell you,
    this is a Government that stands by your side, a Government that
    understands that an educated child is going to make your job a lot
    easier, but a Government that also understands that as we rally the
    community- and faith-based programs--interface with people--it's going
    to make America a much more compassionate and decent and hopeful land.
        Again, I'm so honored that you invited me here. Thank you for
    hearing me out, and may God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:30 p.m. in the Marriott Ballroom at the
    Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Ida L.
    Gillis, national president, Maurice Foster, executive director, Leonard
    G. Cooke, national vice president, and Hubert T. Bell, Jr., special
    assistant to the president, National Organization of Black Law
    Enforcement Executives; and Charles H. Ramsey, chief of police,
    Washington, DC.