Protecting and Honoring Our Nations Law Enforcement May 15,
2000
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release |
|
May 15, 2000 |
Protecting and Honoring Our Nations Law
Enforcement
May 15, 2000
At todays 19th Annual Peace Officers Memorial, President Clinton
will announce new efforts to protect law enforcement officers and honor their
extraordinary service. Today, the President will announce: 1) that the Justice
Department has funded over 92,000 armor vests to date for State and local
police officers across the country through the Bulletproof Vest Partnership; 2)
the availability of $24 million in FY 2000 funding to double the current number
of vests funded; 3) support for authorizing legislation to extend the vest
grant program through FY 2004 and double current funding to $150 million; and
4) his directive to the Attorney General to help create a Presidential award of
valor to honor the extraordinary service and valor of public safety officers.
IMPROVING OFFICER SAFETY WITH BULLETPROOF VESTS
- Over 92,000 Vests Funded Last Year. In June 1998, President
Clinton signed into law the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act to provide
grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to purchase bulletproof
vests for their officers. Under the Bullet Vest Program (BVP), the Justice
Department pays up to 50 percent of the cost for vests purchased by law
enforcement agencies. The BVP has been an unqualified success, and the
President will announce that in its first year, the vest program helped state
and local law enforcement purchase 92,500 vests.
- Another $24 Million Available In FY 2000 To Bring Total To
180,000 Vests Funded. The President will also announce that $24 million in
FY 2000 funding is available from the Justice Department to fund another 90,000
or more vests. Police departments may apply through May 26, 2000 for these
funds. Over 2,400 applications have already been received. Police Departments
will be able to access grant funding to pay for new vests next month.
SUPPORTING THE EXTENSION AND DOUBLING OF THE VEST PROGRAM
- Endorsement Of Legislation To Extend And Increase Bulletproof
Vest Grant Program. The President will announce his support for new
legislation, sponsored by Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Campbell (R-CO) and
Representative Visclosky (D-IN), to reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest Program
for another three years (FY 2002-2004) and double the authorized funding from
$75 million to $150 million. The BVP is set to expire in FY 2001. In addition,
the legislation would guarantee that the program will pay for the full 50
percent of the costs of bulletproof vests for jurisdictions of under 100,000
persons.
CREATING NEW AWARD OF VALOR TO HONOR EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE
- Presidential Directive To Create New Award Of Valor For Public
Safety Officers. In addition to helping keep law enforcement safe, the
President believes we must honor the exceptional valor and sacrifice of our
public safety officers. The President strongly supports legislation to create a
medal of valor award to honor the officers who act above and beyond the call of
duty. Unfortunately, the legislation has remained stalled for months. The
President believes that public safety officers should not have to wait any
longer to receive the recognition they deserve. Today, the President will issue
a directive to the Attorney General to develop a plan to create a Presidential
award through Executive action to recognize public safety officers who have
exhibited extraordinary valor. Under the directive, the Attorney General will
designate a group of experts representing all aspects of the public safety
sector to provide input into the award.
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