[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,

[[Page 1117]]

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

[[Page 1118]]

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.