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Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. email
Janelle Erickson to distribution list re Members Attending Top Cops
10/20/1999
P6/b(6)
(partial) (1 page)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
Domestic Policy Council
Deanne Benos (Subject File)
OA/Box Number: 21323
FOLDER TITLE:
Top Cops
2012-0726-S
kc905
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information |(a)(1) of the PRAJ
b(1) National security classified information J(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office |(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute |(a)(3) of the PRA
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute |(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA|
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information |(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors. or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes |(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
NATIONAL
TOP COPS AWARDS
POLICE: D GANIZATIONS
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLICE ORGANIZATIONS
Presidential Committee
The Honorable and Mrs. William J. Clinton
The Honorable GeraldR. Ford
The Honorable and Mrs. Ronald W. Reagan
Memorandum
Congressional Committee
The Honorable JosephR. Biden, Jr
The Honorable Tom Daschle
TheHonorable Richard A. Gephardt
The Honorable Newt Gingrich
The Honorable Oran G. Hatch
The Honorable Trent Lott
To:
All Interested Parties
The Honorable Jim Ramstad
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
The Honorable Bast Stupak
Sent Via Facsimile
Celebrity Committee
From: Jody Couser
Richard Belzer
NBC. "Homicide: Life on the Street"
Date: 10/27/99
Charley Casserly
General Manager,
The Washington Redskins
Re:
TOP COPS Awards(s)
Reed Diamond
NBC. "Homicide: Life on the Street"
Denms Fram
ABC. "NYPD Blue"
Steven Hill
NBC. "Law & Order"
Check out America's Most Wanted this Saturday night, October 30, 1999! The
EdMacinaro
NBC. "Hill Street Blues"
program will end with d tribute to the 1999 TOP COPS Awards(s) winners, with a
James McDaniel
highlight on this year's Citizen's Choice Award winner, Sergeant James McMullin
ABC. "NYPD Blue"
from Chicago.
S. Epaths Merkerson
NBC. "Law & Order
Jerry Orbach
The show airs on FOX at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 8:00 p.m. Central and 9:00 p.m. Pacific.
NBC. "Law & Order"
Check your local listings for more information.
1
Russell
CNN. "Headline News"
Jimmy Smits
P.S. If there are any breaking news stories, our segment is subject to be cut.
ABC. "NYPD Blue"
Callie Thome
NBC. "Homicide: Life on the Streets"
John Walsh
FOX. "America's Most Wanted"
Joseph Wambaugh
Author
Thomas J. Scotto, President, NAPO and Detectives' Endowment Association of New York City Robert T. Scully, Executive Director, NAPO
750 FIRST STREET. N.E.
SUITE 920
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20002
(202) 842-4420
FAX
(202)
842-4396
NATIONAL
TOP COPS AWARDS
POLICE GANIZATIONS
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLICE ORGANIZATIONS
Presidential Committee
The Honorable and Mrs. William J. Clinton
The Honorable GeraldR. Ford
The Honorable and Ms. Ronald W. Reagan
Memorandum
Congressional Committee
The Honorable JosephR. Biden, Jt
The Honorable Tom Daschle
TheHomorable Richard A Gephardt
The Honorable Newt Gingrich
The Honorable Orein G. Hatch
The Honorable Trent Lott
To:
All Interested Parties
The Honorable Jim Ramisted
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
Sent Via Facsimile
The Honorable Bast Stupak
Celebrity Committee
From: Jody Couser
Richard Belzer
NBC. "Homicide: Life on the Socet"
Date: 10/27/99
Charley Casserly
General Manager,
The Washington Redskins
Re:
TOP COPS Awards(s)
Reed Dismond
NBC. "Homicide: Life on the Street"
Dennis Franz
ABC. "NYPD Blue"
Steven Hill
NBC, "Law & Order"
Check out America's Most Wanted this Saturday night, October 30, 1999! The
EdMannaro
NBC, "Hill Street Blues"
program will end with a tribute to the 1999 TOP COPS Awards(s) winners, with a
James McDaniel
highlight on this year's Citizen's Choice Award winner, Sergeant James McMullin
ABC. "NYPD Blue"
from Chicago.
5. Epaths Merkerson
NBC. "Law a Order'
Jerry Orbach
The show airs on FOX at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 8:00 p.m. Central and 9:00 p.m. Pacific.
NBC. "Law & Order"
Check your local listings for more information.
Lynne Russell
CNN. "Headline News"
Jimmy Smits
P.S. If there are any breaking news stories, our segment is subject to be cut.
ABC, "NYPD Blue"
Callie Thome
NBC, "Homicide: Life on the Streets"
John Walsh
FOX. "America's Most Wanted"
Joseph Wambaugh
Author
Thomas J. Scotto, President, NAPO and Detectives' Endowment Association of New York City Robert T. Scully, Executive Director, NAPO
750 FIRST STREET. N.E.
SUITE 920
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20002
(202) 842-4420 FAX (202) 542-4396 -
cpdated statistical
PRESIDENT CLINTON: HONORING OUR COMMITMENT TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT
October 21, 1999
Today, President Clinton will commemorate the 5ᵗʰ anniversary of the Administration's
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program by honoring this year's "Top Cops", an
annual award given by the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) to honor law
enforcement officers for outstanding service to their communities. This year, 32 officers from 9
states and the District of Columbia will receive the distinguished Top Cops award, including 5
officers that are funded through the COPS program. At the event, the President will: (1) urge
the Congress to fully fund his COPS Program that has funded over 100,000 community police
officers to date; and (2) endorse legislation proposed by Senator Biden (D-DE) to extend the
successful COPS program for five more years.
FIGHTING FOR RESOURCES TO KEEP OUR STREETS SAFE. This week, the FBI
released new crime data showing that crime is continuing to fall in all categories and in every
region of the country. In 1998, serious crime fell for the seventh year in a row and the murder
rate dropped to the lowest point in 31 years. Despite this new evidence which show hat
community police officers are having an impact in turning the tide against crime, the Republican
budget eviscerates the COPS program that has put more officers on the street and spread
community policing to thousands of police departments nationwide.
-rollsback
Clinton Administration budget: Protecting law enforcement priorities. The President will
continue to fight Republican efforts that undermine our nation's commitment to community
policing into the 21st Century. The President will call on the Congress to fully fund his
$1.27 billion COPS initiative that will: put an additional 30,000- 50,000 officers on the
>street; give provide law enforcement the with latest crime-fighting technologies; help communities to hire
new community prosecutors to work with local residents to address local crime problems;
and target funds to engage the entire community in preventing crime.
Republican spending bill threatens progress on community crime fighting. The House
Republican spending bill would cut the COPS program by nearly $1 billion. The Republican
FY 2000 Commerce, Justice, State appropriations bill slashes funding for the COPS program
to just $325 million. Compared to the President's budget, the Republican COPS alternative
would mean 4,000 fewer police officers for our streets in FY 2000 alone; $350 million less
for law enforcement to use technology to fight and solve crimes; and no funding to help hire
new community prosecutors or for community crime prevention.
TAKING THE NEXT STEP ON COMMUNITY POLICING. The COPS Program, created
in the historic 1994 Crime Act, sunsets next year. Today, the President will endorse bipartisan
legislation that Senator Biden will introduce with the support of 45 co-sponsors to extend the
COPS program through the year 2005.
"[TK]" modeled after the President's 21st Century Policing Initiative, will help communities
to build on their offorts under the successful COPS program. The bill will invest more than
$5.5 billion over five years to provide communities, they han with resources to put more officers on the
the innovatne community
crime
programs
established
street and give them the tools they need to make those streets safe. Specifically, the
legislation provides: (1) $600 million to hire, redeploy, and retain police officers; (2) $350
million to fund law enforcement technologies such as crime mapping and DNA analysis; and
(3) $200 million to hire community prosecutors to work with community police and
neighborhood residents to prevent and combat crime.
A RECORD OF PARTNERSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. The Clinton
Administration has built the COPS program with the strong support of mayors and police chiefs
from across the country, NAPO, and every major national law enforcement organization in
America. In addition to COPS, the Clinton Administration has helped to dramatically expand
resources for state and local law enforcement.
Increasing assistance for state and local law enforcement by 500 percent since FY 1994.
Over the past seven years, the Clinton Administration has provided direct new resources for
state and local crime fighting and crime prevention efforts. As part of this commitment, the
Clinton Administration has increased state and local assistance by over 500 percent -- from
$849 million in FY 1994 to $5.1 billion in FY 1999. State and local law enforcement
agencies have used this funding to strengthen their forces; buy new equipment, patrol cars,
computers and crime-fighting technologies; build new prisons; and deploy new strategies to
reduce crime.
Paul D. Glastris
10/21/99 12:01:44 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: latest NAPO
Draft 10/21/99 11:00 a.m.
Glastris
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS AT NAPO TOP COPS EVENT
ROSE GARDEN, THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, DC
October 21, 1999
Acknowledgments: Dep. AG Eric Holder; Senators Biden and Leahy; Rep Stupak;
NAPO Pres. Tom Scotto; NAPO Exec. Dir. Bob Scully [a great friend of this administration
and a great fighter for the COPS program]; new COPS Director Tom Frazier [former
Baltimore police commissioner];
In 1968, Robert Kennedy said that the fight against crime is "a fight to preserve that
quality of community which is at the root of our greatness." The men and women we honor
here today are at the forefront of that fight, and exemplify that greatness. They are true
American heroes.
They have performed astonishing acts of valor and humanity. Crossing the line of fire
to rescue downed fellow officers. Being shot and wounded, yet managing to return fire and
subdue the assailant. Flying across the Alaskan wilderness to single-handedly capture five
armed kidnappers. Spotting a dangerous gas leak and evacuating 200 citizens moments before
their apartment building exploded. These and other amazing stories aren't from TV shows.
They actually happened. They represent, in dramatic form, the kind of professional police
work that goes on every day across this country. Just last week, three brave officers were
ambushed and killed, and two others were wounded, by a gunman in Pleasonton, Texas. We
mourn their passing, and offer our prayers for their families. Every day, police officers put
on their badges and uniforms, knowing that at any moment, they, too, may be called upon put
their own lives on the line to protect the American people.
Because of their efforts, America today is a significantly safer place. This week, the
Justice Department reported that the crime rate fell again last year, in all categories and all
parts of the country. The murder rate is now at a 31 year low. Crime has been dropping now
for seven straight years, making this longest continuous decline in crime ever recorded. And
that's in part because we've turned to effective, common-sense strategies like community
policing.
Seven years ago, it looked to many people as if the crime rate were fated to rise
forever; that the police were powerless to stop it; and that there was nothing the federal
government could or should do about it. I didn't share that view. Since my days as Attorney
General of Arkansas 20 years ago, I had worked with police departments. Attended the
funerals of too many fallen officers. And seen first hand the dramatic difference that good
police work can make.
When I ran for President, I said we could make America safer by helping local
communities put 100,000 new police officers on the street, to walk beats, to apprehend
criminals, to help neighborhood groups chase away drug dealers, and prevent crime from
happening in the first place. After I became President, and with the vital support of NAPO,
we passed the Brady bill in 1993 and the crime bill in 1994. We began our COPS program.
We toughened penalties and passed assault weapons ban.
Today, five years after we first opened the doors of the COPS program office, we have
already funded over 100,000 police officers, ahead of time and under budget. Anyone who
doubts that these police officers have made a difference should consider this: 5 of the 32
officers we honor today were funded under our COPS program.
I am grateful. and America is grateful, for the bravery, the dedication, and the plain
hard work of our nation's police officers, who have helped bring the crime rate down for
seven years now. But I doubt that there is an officer here today, or a citizen in this nation,
who thinks the crime rate is low enough.
That is why 1 have called on Congress to do more of what we know works. Put up to
50,000 more police on the street, especially in our highest-crime neighborhoods. Hire
thousands of new community prosecutors to work with police and local residents. Provide
police departments with the latest, best crime fighting technology, from better communications
systems so police from different jurisdictions can talk to each other, to crime mapping systems
that allow police to see criminal patterns and pinpoint hotspots.
I believe there is bipartisan support for this. We see that in the broad backing that
Senator Biden has received for his bill that would extend the life of the COPS program for
another five years. I hope Congress passes Sen. Biden's bill, and if they do, I'll sign it.
If we do these things, we can move dramatically closer to what I believe should be our
long-term goal: to make America the safest big nation on earth.
Unfortunately, the Republican majority in Congress has produced a budget bill that
drastically cuts our COPS program. Their bill would mean 3000 fewer new police officers in
the coming year, no community prosecutors, and far less crime fighting technology. This
makes no sense. Why, when crime is dropping, would you want to cut your most successful
crime-fighting tool? That's like tracking a criminal, cornering him, then letting him go.
Today, Congress is sending me their crime spending bill that fails to fully fund our
plan to put more police on the street. When it hits my desk, I will veto it.
Our strategy, which has helped bring the crime rate down for seven years, is very
simple: more police, fewer guns. The Republican Congress wants to go in the opposite
direction: fewer police, more guns. Their strategy is wrong for America.
I expressed my views on this two days ago, in a meeting with congressional leaders of
both parties at the White House. We agreed to work together in a bipartisan spirit to resolve
our differences, make the tough choices, and reach an overall agreement on a budget that lives
within its means and lives up to the values of the American people. There is no greater value
than the safety of our citizens. So I call on Congress to fully fund our COPS program, put
more police officers on the street, and pass common-sense gun legislation that keeps guns out
of the wrong hands.
I believe that by working together, we can make this a season of progress. We can
lengthen the life of Social Security and Medicare, invest in 100,000 new teachers, protect the
environment, strengthen national defense, and make America the safest big nation on earth.
If we do, then the greatness that Robert F. Kennedy talked about in 1968, we can achieve in
the 21st Century.
Thank you and God bless you.
Message Sent To:
Bruce N. Reed/OPD/EOP@EOP
Cathy R. Mays/OPD/EOP@EOP
Anna Richter/OPD/EOP@EOP
Eric P. Liu/OPD/EOP@EOP
Leanne A. Shimabukuro/OPD/EOP@EOP
Deanne E. Benos/OPD/EOP@EOP
Joshua S. Gottheimer/WHO/EOP@EOP
Terry Edmonds/WHO/EOP@EOP
Linda Ricci/OMB/EOP@EOP
Karin Kullman/OPD/EOP@EOP
[email protected] @ inet
[email protected] @ inet
[email protected] (markpenn) @ inet
Joel Johnson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Loretta M. Ucelli/WHO/EOP@EOP
Lindsay R. Drewel/WHO/EOP@EOP
Dominique L. Cano/WHO/EOP@EOP
Maria Echaveste/WHO/EOP@EOP
Marjorie Tarmey/WHO/EOP@EOP
Karen Tramontano/WHO/EOP@EOP
Janelle E. Erickson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Lawrence J. Stein/WHO/EOP@EOP
Melissa G. Green/OPD/EOP@EOP
Top Cops Event
Q&A
October 21, 1999
COPS Program
Q:
How many of the 100,000 officers that you've funded are actually on the street?
A:
On May 12, the COPS program funded its 100,000th officer ahead of schedule and under
budget. Of this total, more than 55,000 are already on the street working with the
community to fight crime. The rest will join them shortly: recruiting, screening, hiring
and training new officers takes between 12-18 months, and many officers we've funded
are currently in the pipeline. Our COPS office expects - in fact, it demands - that local
law enforcement agencies stick to their normal rigorous recruiting and hiring procedures
in filling all COPS -funded positions. Nothing could be more important than hiring
qualified and fully screened police to entrust with the public's safety.
Q:
If the Republican Commerce, Justice spending bill cuts nearly $1 billion from your
COPS program, why does their proposal fund only 3,000 fewer officers than your
proposal?
A:
The President's FY 2000 budget provides $1.275 billion to fund his 21st Century Policing
Initiative. The President's proposal provides: (1) $600 million to hire, redeploy and
retain officers; (2) $200 million to hire new community prosecutors; (3) $350 million to
help police departments buy latest in crime-fighting technology; and (4) $125 million for
community crime prevention.
The Administration's proposal would fund about 6,000 additional officers in FY 2000,
helping to meet his five-year budget goal of 30,000-50,000 more officers. The
Republican budget bill passed last night would only fund about 2,900 officers in FY
2000 - 3,000 less than the Administration's proposal. Even worse, the Republican COPS
funding would provide no new funding for community prosecutors or community crime
prevention, and significantly less than the President's request for critical law enforcement
technology - to give officers the tools they need to fight crime in the 21st Century. We
think that the Republican budget bill seriously undermines the progress we've made with
a program that has been instrumental in helping communities to fight crime and improve
public safety.
NAPO/FALN
Q:
The President of NAPO, Tom Scotto, has been very vocal in his opposition to the
President's decision to grant clemency to the members of the FALN. Isn't today's
event honoring NAPO members an attempt to smooth out relations with the
organization or to divert attention away from the Senate's hearings on the issue
yesterday?
A:
The President has sponsored the Top Cops awards ceremony with NAPO every year
since he's been in office, and today's event has been the result of months of advanced
planning. While they may have differences on the FALN issue, the President and NAPO
-- as well as the rest of the law enforcement community -- share many of the same goals
and have productively worked together for years to make our nation's communities safer.
And we will continue to work closely on the many big issues facing law enforcement that
lay ahead of us, including fighting to fully fund the President's COPS Program.
Biden Legislation
Q:
What are the main provisions of the Biden COPS reauthorization bill?
A:
Similar to the President's proposal, the Biden bill authorizes over $1 billion per year to
extend the COPS program through FY 2005. And just like the President's initiative, the
key elements of the Biden bill include:
(1) $600 million to hire up to 50,000 more police officers for our streets;
(2) $350 million for law enforcement to get the latest crime-fighting and crime solving
technologies, such as computer crime mapping to target crime "hot spots" and DNA
analysis;
(3) $200 million to hire new community prosecutors to work with community police and
local residents to prevent and fight crime.
Q:
Is the Biden bill identical to the President's 21st Century Policing Initiative that he
unveiled earlier this year?
A:
We strongly support the Biden bill which closely tracks the President's proposal. Like
the President's proposal, the Biden bill authorizes the COPS program at over $1 billion
per year, and contains many of the same key components: up to 50,000 more officers,
new law enforcement technology funds, and new community prosecutors. One
difference, however, is that the Biden bill does not contain the President's proposal to
provide $125 million for communities to engage in crime prevention. The Biden bill
would also keep intact the current cap set for hiring costs at $75,000 per officer - the
Administration's proposal would raise the cap to accommodate the higher salaries of
larger city police departments.
Q:
Which Republicans are co-sponsoring the Biden legislation?
A:
The Biden COPS bill has 45 co-sponsors, including five Republicans. Senate Republican
co-sponsors include: Senators Collins, Jeffords, Roth, Specter, and Snowe.
Just as our nation is experiencing record declines in crime, the Senate and the House
passed a spending bill yesterday that cuts one of our most effective crime fighting tools,
President Clinton's Community Oriented Policing Services program (COPS). To date, the COPS
program has funded over 100,000 more police for our nation's streets -- on time and under
budget. The Commerce, Justice State appropriations bill would seriously undermine the progress
we have made through community policing by slashing the President's 21st Century Community
Policing Initiative by nearly $1 billion. This drastic reduction will mean 3,000 fewer police
officers on our streets next year alone, far less crime-fighting technology for our police
departments, and no funding for community prosecutors and community-based crime prevention
programs. Instead of rolling back the success of this program, our nation should redouble our
efforts and build on what works by fully funding the President's COPS initiative to give law
enforcement the tools they needs to continue to improve public safety all across America.
OCT-21-99 11:39 FROM: COMMUNICATION
ID:
PAGE
2/2
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(New York, New York)
For Immediate Release
October 7, 1999
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Today the Senate passed a spending bill that woefully shortchanges America's children.
The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriation bill fails to make
vital investments in our nation's schools. It undermines the commitment we made last year to
hire quality teachers and reduce class size in the early grades. It underfunds after-school
programs and such important efforts as the GEAR UP mentoring program, education
technology, and adult literacy.
If this bill were to come to me in its current form, I would veto it. I have already sent
Congress a budget for the programs in this bill that provides for essential investments and is
fully paid for. I urge Congress again to work on a bipartisan basis to develop legislation that
truly strengthens public education and other key national priorities.
The bill passed by the Senate is a catalog of missed opportunities and misguided
priorities. I am particularly disappointed that the Senate defeated a common-sense measure to
make schools accountable for results. The Bingaman-Reed-Kerry amendment would have set
aside funds for states to turn around failing schools. By rejecting it, the Senate lost a chance
to make accountability more than just a slogan. The Senate also rejected amendments to
increase the number of qualified teachers in high-need districts and to help states improve the
quality of their teaching forces.
The Senate properly rejected two wrong-headed amendments that would have hurt
workers. One would have barred implementation of the ergonomics rule so key to
safeguarding worker health. The other would have barred enforcement of the Davis-Bacon
law in natural disaster areas, a law which assures workers appropriate wages.
While the Senate did make important strides by committing to increase child care
funding next year, the bill underfunds many other efforts, including public health priorities in
preventive health, programs that give millions of Americans better access to health care, and
critical social services for vulnerable families. The bill also does not provide aid to families
caring for elderly or ill relatives through the Family Caregiver initiative. Even worse, in
expressing support for an across-the-board cut in all discretionary programs, the Senate has
shown its unwillingness to address America's needs in a responsible and comprehensive way.
This bill is unacceptable, and I cannot support it.
###
Paul D. Glastris
10/20/99 08:45:59 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: latest NAPO remarks
Draft 10/20/99 8:25 p.m.
Glastris
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS AT NAPO TOP COPS EVENT
ROSE GARDEN, THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, DC
October 21, 1999
Acknowledgments: Dep. AG Eric Holder; Senators Biden and Leahy; Rep Stupak;
NAPO Pres. Tom Scotto; NAPO Exec. Dir. Bob Scully [a great friend of this administration
and a great fighter for the COPS program]; new COPS Director Tom Frazier [former
Baltimore police commissioner];
In 1968, Robert Kennedy said that the fight against crime is "a fight to preserve that
quality of community which is at the root of our greatness." The men and women we honor
here today are at the forefront of that fight, and exemplify that greatness. They are true
American heroes.
They have performed astonishing acts of valor and humanity. Crossing the line of fire
to rescue downed fellow officers. Being shot and wounded, yet managing to return fire and
subdue the assailant. Flying across the Alaskan wilderness to single-handedly capture five
armed kidnappers. Spotting a dangerous gas leak and evacuating 200 citizens moments before
their apartment building exploded. These and other amazing stories aren't from TV shows.
They actually happened. They represent, in dramatic form, the kind of professional police
work that goes on every day across this country. Just last week, three brave officers were
ambushed and killed, and two others were wounded, by a gunman in Pleasonton, Texas. We
mourn their passing, and offer our prayers for their families. Every day, police officers put
on their badges and uniforms, knowing that at any moment, they, too, may be called upon put
their own lives on the line to protect the American people.
Because of their efforts, America today is a significantly safer place. This week, the
Justice Department reported that the crime fell again last year, in all categories and all parts of
the country. The murder rate is now at a 31 year low. Crime has been dropping now for
seven straight years, making this longest continuous decline in crime ever recorded. And
that's in part because we've turned to effective, common-sense strategies like community
policing.
Seven years ago, it looked to many people as if the crime rate was fated to rise forever;
that the police were powerless to stop it; and that there was nothing the federal government
could or should do about it. I didn't share that view. Since my days as Attorney General of
Arkansas 20 years ago, I had worked with police departments. Attended the funerals of too
many fallen officers. And seen first hand the dramatic difference that good police work can
make.
When I ran for President, I said we could make America safer by helping local
communities put 100,000 new police officers on the street, to walk beats, to apprehend
criminals, help neighborhood groups chase away drug dealers, and prevent crime from
happening in the first place. After I became President, and with the vital support of NAPO,
we passed the crime bill in 1994. We began our COPS program. We toughened penalties, and
passed the Brady Bill and the assault weapons ban, to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
Today, five years after we first opened the doors of the COPS program office, we have
already funded over 100,000 police officers, ahead of time and under budget. Anyone who
doubts that these police officers have made a difference should consider this: 5 of the 32
officers we honor today were funded under our COPS program.
I am grateful, and America is grateful, for the bravery, the dedication, and the plain
hard work of our nation's police officers who have helped bring the crime rate down for seven
years now. But I doubt that there is an officer here today, or a citizen in this nation, who
thinks the crime rate is low enough.
That is why I have called on Congress to do more of what we know works. Put up to
50,000 more police on the street, especially in our highest-crime neighborhoods. Hire
thousands of new community prosecutors to work with police and local residents. Provide
police departments with the latest, best crime fighting technology, from better communications
systems so police from different jurisdictions can talk to each other, to crime mapping systems
that allow police to see criminal patterns and pinpoint hotspots.
I believe there is bipartisan support for this. We see that in the broad backing that
Senator Biden has received for his bill that would extend the life of the COPS program for
another five years. I hope Congress passes Sen. Biden's bill, and if they do, I'll sign it.
If we do these things, we can move dramatically closer to what I believe should be our
long-term goal: to make America the safest big nation on earth.
Unfortunately, the Republican majority in Congress has produced a budget bill that
drastically cuts our COPS program. Their bill would mean 3000 fewer new police officers in
the coming year. It would mean no community prosecutors. Far less crime fighting
technology. This makes no sense. Why, when crime is dropping, would you want to cut your
most successful crime-fighting tool? That's like tracking a criminal, cornering him, then
letting him go.
I expressed my views two days ago, in a meeting with congressional leaders of both
parties at the White House. We agreed to work together in a bipartisan spirit to resolve our
differences, make the tough choices, and reach an overall agreement on a budget that lives
within its means and lives up to the values of the American people. There is no greater value
than the safety of our citizens. So I call on Congress to fully fund our COPS program, put
more police officers on the street, and pass a balanced, bipartisan juvenile crime bill that keeps
guns out of the wrong hands.
I believe that by working together, we can make this a season of progress. We can
lengthen the life of Social Security and Medicare, invest in 100,000 new teachers, protect the
environment, strengthen national defense, and make America the safest big nation on earth.
If we do, then the greatness that Robert F. Kennedy talked about in 1968, we can achieve in
the 21st Century.
Thank you and God bless you.
Message Sent To:
Bruce N. Reed/OPD/EOP@EOP
Cathy R. Mays/OPD/EOP@EOP
Anna Richter/OPD/EOP@EOP
Eric P. Liu/OPD/EOP@EOP
Leanne A. Shimabukuro/OPD/EOP@EOP
Deanne E. Benos/OPD/EOP@EOP
Joshua S. Gottheimer/WHO/EOP@EOP
Terry Edmonds/WHO/EOP@EOP
Linda Ricci/OMB/EOP@EOP
Karin Kullman/OPD/EOP@EOP
[email protected] @ inet
[email protected]@ inet
[email protected] (markpenn)
Joel Johnson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Loretta M. UcelliWHO/EOP@EOP
Lindsay R. Drewel/WHO/EOP@EOP
Dominique L. Cano/WHO/EOP@EOP
Maria Echaveste/WHO/EOP@EOP
Marjorie Tarmey/WHO/EOP@EOP
Karen Tramontano/WHO/EOP@EOP
Janelle E. Erickson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Lawrence J. Stein/WHO/EOP@EOP
Melissa G. Green/OPD/EOP@EOP
PRESIDENT CLINTON: HONORING OUR COMMITMENT TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT
October 21, 1999
Today, President Clinton will commemorate the 5th anniversary of the Administration's
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program by honoring this year's recipients of
the "Top Cops" awards. The awards are given annually by the National Association of Police
Organizations to law enforcement officers for outstanding service to their communities. At
today's event, the President will urge Congress to provide full funding for the COPS program,
which has funded over 100,000 community police officers to date and spread community
policing to thousands of police departments nationwide. He will also endorse legislation by Sen.
Joseph Biden to extend the successful COPS program for five more years.
RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. The "Top Cop"
awards given by NAPO pay tribute to law enforcement officers from across the country for their
exceptional service for the preceding year. "Top Cops" are nominated by their fellow officers
and are selected from hundreds of nominations. This year, 32 officers from 9 states and the
District of Columbia will receive the distinguished Top Cops award, including 5 officers that are
funded through the COPS program.
FIGHTING FOR RESOURCES TO KEEP OUR STREETS SAFE. Under the Clinton
Administration, America has experienced the largest continuous decline in crime on record.
This week, the FBI announced that serious crime fell in 1998 for the seventh year in a row and
that the murder rate has dropped to its lowest point in 31 years: The President will point out
today that community policing has been a key part of the Administration strategy to turn the tide
on crime -- and he will call on Republicans not to undermine the future of community policing
#3
and the COPS program.
Clinton Administration budget: Protecting law enforcement priorities. The President today will
call on Congress to fully fund his $1.27 billion COPS initiative for FY 2000 that will: help
put an additional 30,000-50,000 officers on the street; provide law enforcement with the
latest crime-fighting technologies; help fund new community prosecutors; and target funds to
engage the entire community in preventing crime.
Republican spending bill threatens progress on community crime fighting. The Republican
spending bill would cut COPS by nearly $1 billion. The Republican FY 2000 Commerce,
Justice, State appropriations bill reduces funding for COPS to just $325 million. Compared
to the President's budget, the Republican proposal means 3,000 fewer police officers for our
streets in the next year alone. It fails to meet law enforcement technology needs, and it
provides no funding for new community prosecutors, or for community crime prevention.
TAKING THE NEXT STEP ON COMMUNITY POLICING. The COPS Program, created
in the historic 1994 Crime Act, expires next year by statute. Today, the President will endorse
bipartisan legislation to be introduced by Senator Biden with the support of 45 co-sponsors to
extend the COPS program through the year 2005.
Senator Biden's legislation, modeled after the President's 21st Century Policing Initiative, will
invest more than $5.5 billion over five years to provide communities with resources to put
more officers on the street and give them the tools they need to make those streets safe.
Specifically, the legislation provides: (1) $600 million to hire, redeploy, and retain police
officers; (2) $350 million to fund law enforcement technologies such as crime mapping and
DNA analysis; and (3) $200 million to hire community prosecutors to work with community
police and neighborhood residents to prevent and combat crime.
A RECORD OF PARTNERSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. The Clinton
Administration has built the COPS program with the strong support of mayors and police chiefs
from across the country, NAPO, and every major national law enforcement organization in
America. In addition to COPS, the Clinton Administration has helped to dramatically expand
resources for state and local law enforcement.
Boosting assistance for state and local law enforcement by 500 percent since FY 1994.
Over the past seven years, the Clinton Administration has provided direct new
resources for state and local crime fighting and prevention efforts, increasing state
and local assistance by over 500 percent -- from $849 million in FY 1994 to $5.1
billion in FY 1999. State and local law enforcement agencies have used this funding
to strengthen their forces; buy new equipment, patrol cars, computers and crime-
fighting technologies; build new prisons; and deploy new strategies to reduce crime.
Top Cops Event
Questions and Answers
October 21, 1999
COPS Program
Q:
How many of the 100,000 officers that you've funded are actually on the street?
A:
On May 12, the COPS program funded its 100,000th officer ahead of schedule and under
budget. Of this total, more than 55,000 are already on the street working with the community to
fight crime. The rest will join them shortly: recruiting, screening, hiring and training new
officers takes between 12-18 months, and many officers we've funded are currently in the
pipeline. Our COPS office expects - in fact, it demands - that local law enforcement agencies
stick to their normal rigorous recruiting and hiring procedures in filling all COPS -funded
positions. Nothing could be more important than hiring qualified and fully screened police to
entrust with the public's safety.
Q:
If the Republican Commerce, Justice spending bill cuts nearly $1 billion from your
COPS program, how come their proposal funds only 3,000 fewer officers than your
proposal?
A:
The President's FY 2000 budget provides $1.275 billion to fund his 21st Century Policing
Initiative. The President's proposal provides: (1) $600 million to hire, redeploy and retain
officers; (2) $200 million to hire new community prosecutors; (3) $350 million to help police
departments buy latest in crime-fighting technology; and (4) $125 million for community crime
prevention.
The Administration's proposal would fund about 6,000 additional officers in FY 2000,
helping to meet his five-year budget goal of 30,000-50,000 more officers. The Republican
budget bill passed last night would only fund about 2,900 officers in FY 2000 - 3,000 less than
the Administration's proposal. Even worse, the Republican COPS funding would provide no
new funding for community prosecutors or community crime prevention, and significantly less
than the President's request for critical law enforcement technology - to give officers the tools
they need to fight crime in the 21st Century. We think that the Republican budget bill seriously
undermines the progress we've made with a program that has been instrumental in helping
communities to fight crime and improve public safety.
NAPO/FALN
Q:
The President of NAPO, Tom Scotto, has been very vocal in his opposition to the
President's decision to grant clemency to the members of the FALN. Isn't today's event
honoring NAPO members an attempt to smooth out relations with the organization or to
divert attention away from the Senate's hearings on the issue yesterday?
A:
The President has sponsored the Top Cops awards ceremony with NAPO every year
since he's been in office, and today's event has been the result of months of advanced planning.
While they may have differences on the FALN issue, the President and NAPO -- as well as the
rest of the law enforcement community -- share many of the same goals and have productively
worked together for years to make our nation's communities safer. And we will continue to
work closely on the many big issues facing law enforcement that lay ahead of us, including
fighting to fully fund the President's COPS Program.
Biden Legislation
Q:
What are the main provisions of the Biden COPS reauthorization bill?
A:
Similar to the President's proposal, the Biden bill authorizes over $1 billion per year to
extend the COPS program through FY 2005. And just like the President's initiative, the
key elements of the Biden bill include:
(1) $600 million to hire up to 50,000 more police officers for our streets;
(2) $350 million for law enforcement to get the latest crime-fighting and crime solving
technologies, such as computer crime mapping to target crime "hot spots" and DNA
analysis;
(3) $200 million to hire new community prosecutors to work with community police and
local residents to prevent and fight crime.
Q: Is the Biden bill identical to the President's 21st Century Policing Initiative that he
unveiled earlier this year?
A:
We strongly support the Biden bill which closely tracks the President's proposal. Like
the President's proposal, the Biden bill authorizes the COPS program at over $1 billion per year,
and contains many of the same key components: up to 50,000 more officers, new law
enforcement technology funds, and new community prosecutors. One difference, however, is
that the Biden bill does not contain the President's proposal to provide $125 million for
communities to engage in crime prevention. The Biden bill would also keep intact the current
cap set for hiring costs at $75,000 per officer - the Administration's proposal would raise the
cap to accommodate the higher salaries of larger city police departments.
Q:
Which Republicans are co-sponsoring the Biden legislation?
A:
The Biden COPS bill has 45 co-sponsors, including five Republicans. Senate Republican
co-sponsors include: Senators Collins, Jeffords, Roth, Specter, and Snowe.
OCT-21-1999 11:22
JUSTICE INTERGOVERNMENTAL
202 514 2504 P.01/03
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Office of the Deputy Director
Washington, D.C. 20530
FAX TRANSMISSION
950 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
ROOM 1521 MAIN
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20530
To:
Date:
leanue
10/21/99
Fax #:
Pages:
456-7028
3, , including cover
From:
Ian Alberg
Deputy Director
(202) 514-5310 - Office
(202) 514-2504 - Fax
Subject:
DAG Holder Remarks
COMMENTS:
For NAPO TOP cops
OCT-21-1999 11:22
JUSTICE INTERGOVERNMENTAL
202 514 2504 P.02/03
REMARKS OF THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
NAPO Top Cops Event With the President
The White House - Washington, DC
October 21, 1999
Mr. President, Senator Biden, Representative Stupak, it is my great pleasure to
welcome my NAPO colleagues Tom Scotto and Bob Scully, and the Nation's Top Cops,
to the White House.
Mr. President, we stand here today after experiencing the seventh straight year
of declining crime rates. We have the privilege of being joined here by the men and
women, the rank-and-file of law enforcement, who have worked SO hard on the front
lines to make our communities safer places to live. You have provided the leadership
and the tools. But, it is the men and women arrayed behind us and the over 700,000
law enforcement officers they represent, who have been the real cause for our success.
By putting their lives on the line day in and day out on our nations streets, they have
made America a much safer place.
Mr. President, nobody has provided more leadership than you and Vice
President Gore. Your commitment to put 100,000 new police officers on America's
streets is a reality. We have already made grants to fund those 100,000 new officers
and, in time, communities will hire and train those officers and they will be out patrolling
our streets. The Community Policing concept has allowed police officers to get out into
their neighborhoods and is helping them to create new, stronger bonds with the
members of the communities they are swom to protect.
OCT-21-1999 11:22
JUSTICE INTERGOVERNMENTAL
202 514 2504
P.03/03
Senator Biden, and Representative Stupak, all America thanks you as well. You
led the fight in Congress to enact the historic COPS program which funds these
officers, the legislation which funds the Violence Against Women Act, and which
provides for tough but smart crime prevention measures.
However, we cannot rest on the success of the past. We must continue to take
the next critical steps toward reducing crime in this country even further. If we relent for
one minute, if we become complacent, we could see these crime rates return to their
pre-1993 levels.
Mr. President, you have called on Congress to fund 30 to 50 thousand more
community police officers, five thousand new local prosecutors who will work out in the
community with those officers, and to provide the funds for new technology which can
better protect these brave men and women. These steps will be vital if we are to
continue our efforts of further reducing crime in this country as we enter the new
millennium.
Mr. President, you have listened to law enforcement and the partnership which
you have built has shown results. Our families and our communities are all safer today
than they were when you came into office and for that, America thanks you.
It is now my distinct honor to introduce a man who has worked so tirelessly to
make America a safer place to live, Representative Bart Stupak.
TOTAL P.03
Karin Kullman
10/21/99 10:47:03 AM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: Change in NAPO speaking program
FYI -- Sen. Leahy is now NOT attending the Top Cops event. The new speaking order will be:
Holder
Stupak
Biden
Scotto
POTUS
Message Sent To:
Leanne A. Shimabukuro/OPD/EOP@EOP
Bruce N. Reed/OPD/EOP@EOP
Eric P. Liu/OPD/EOP@EOP
Deanne E. Benos/OPD/EOP@EOP
Anna Richter/OPD/EOP@EOP
Cathy R. Mays/OPD/EOP@EOP
Setti D. Warren/WHO/EOP@EOP
Timothy W. Emrich/WHO/EOP@EOP
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
COPS
A GROUND
BREAKING
PARTNERSHIP
WITH
LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT
CELEBRATES
ITS FIFTH
ANNIVERSARY
UITUR
President Clinton and America's Police:
Building Stronger, Safer Communities Together
Honoring our nation's police. Today, President Clinton will honor the 18 outstanding law enforcement
officials who are receiving the National Association of Police Organizations' "TOP COP" Awards. The
President is also honoring the vital role law enforcement officers play in safeguarding our communities.
A Strategy That Works:
Lowest number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in over 35 years. In 1996, 117
federal, state and local law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty, a dramatic 30% decline
over 1995. This is the fewest police officer fatalities since 1960.
7
Crime rates have dropped for five straight years. Before President Clinton took office, violent crime
was increasing in America. The President's anti-crime strategy has helped reverse this trend -- and
violent crime has now dropped years in a row. In fact, the number of murders fell an historic 9% in
1996, while violent crime decreased 6%.
A Record of Accomplishment:
Putting 100,000 new community police on our streets. President Clinton promised to put 100,000
new community police officers on the street to protect our communities, increasing our nation's police
force by nearly 20 percent. Since passage of the President's 1994 anti-crime bill, 64,000 of these
officers have been funded.
Protecting law enforcement from deadly assault weapons. Because criminals should never outgun
law enforcement officers, the President's 1994 anti-crime bill banned 19 of the deadliest cop-killing
assault weapons. The President banned guns like the Uzi, which are the weapons of choice for drug
dealers and gangs.
Preventing criminals from buying handguns. In 1993, the President signed the Brady Bill. Since
its passage, 250,000 stalkers, fugitives and felons have been prevented from buying guns. That means
fewer guns on our streets and safer streets for our officers.
Giving the police the tools they need to fight crime. President Clinton has strengthened efforts to
clamp down on illicit gun markets, by implementing the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative in
selected cities across the country. Through this initiative, law enforcement will trace all guns used in
crime that are seized by Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers, and work with that trace
information to help identify illegal gun traffickers. By analyzing patterns of gun trafficking that exist
in an area, our police officers can more effectively target illegal gun traffickers for prosecution,
particularly those who put guns into the hands of our nation's young people.
Leading a national effort on child safety locks. The President proposed legislation to require
federal gun dealers to provide child safety locks with every gun sold, and directed all federal agencies
to provide these safety locking devices for all handguns issued to federal law enforcement officers.
And because of the President's leadership, 8 major gun manufacturers are announcing their support for
providing child safety devices with all of their handguns.
Withdrawal/Redaction Marker
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. email
Janelle Erickson to distribution list re Members Attending Top Cops
10/20/1999
P6/b(6)
(partial) (1 page)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
Domestic Policy Council
Deanne Benos (Subject File)
OA/Box Number: 21323
FOLDER TITLE:
Top Cops
2012-0726-S
kc905
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - |44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - 15 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information |(a)(1) of the PRA
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office |(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency |(b)(2) of the FOIA|
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRAJ
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information |(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy |(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy |(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions |(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells |(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
[001]
Karin Kullman
10/20/99 08:22:53 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: Members Attending Top Cops
Forwarded by Karin Kullman/OPD/EOP on 10/20/99 08:22 PM
Janelle E. Erickson
10/20/99 08:12:32 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: Members Attending Top Cops
EVENT:
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLICE ORGANIZATIONS (NAPO), TOP
COPS
DATE:
THURSDAYOCTOBER 21, 1999
TIME:
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
LOCATION:
ROSE GARDEN
PARTICIPANTS:
THE PRESIDENT
SCATTO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NAPO
LEAHY
STUPAK
BIDEN
HOLDER
ATTENDING (12):
Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Datlasilva
P6/(b)(6)
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)
P6/(b)(6)
Rep Ken Bentsen (D-TX)
Rep Danny Davis (D-IL)
Rep Sam Gejdenson (D-CT)
Rep Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Rep John Larson (D-CT)
Rep Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Rep Donald Payne (D-NJ)
Rep Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Rep Brad Sherman (D-CA)
Rep Mark Udall (D-CO)
PENDING (9):
Rep Kevin Brady (R-TX)
Rep John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI)
Rep Gene Green (D-TX)
Rep Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
Rep Nancy Johnson (R-CT)
Rep Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI)
Rep Bobby Rush (D-IL)
Rep Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Rep Jerry Weller (R-IL)
REGRETS:
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Senator John Chafee (R-RI)
Rep Pat Danner (D-MO)
Senator Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT)
Senator Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL)
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX)
Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX)
Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI)
Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)
Senator Daniel Moynihan (D-NY)
Senator Frank Murkowski (R-AK)
Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ)
Rep Bill Archer (R-TX)
Rep Steve Horn (R-CA)
Rep Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Rep Sue Kelly (R-NY)
Rep William Lipinski (D-IL)
Rep Lynn Rivers (D-MI)
Rep James Rogan (R-CA)
Rep Steven Rothman (D-NJ)
Rep Janice Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Rep Robert Weygand (D-RI)
Rep Don Young (R-AK)
Message Sent To:
Kay Casstevens/OVP@OVP
David R Thomas/OVP@OVP
Paul Thornell/OVP@OVP
William T. Glunz/OVP@OVP
Julia M. Payne/WHO/EOP@EOP
Elizabeth R. Newman/WHO/EOP@EOP
Nanda Chitre/WHO/EOP@EOP
Jennifer M. Palmieri/WHO/EOP@EOP
Jason H. Schechter/WHO/EOP@EOP
Sarah E. Gegenheimer/WHO/EOP@EOP
Sara M. Latham/WHO/EOP@EOP
Ann F. Lewis/WHO/EOP@EOP
Douglas B. Sosnik/WHO/EOP@EOP
Marjorie Tarmey/WHO/EOP@EOP
Maria Echaveste/WHO/EOP@EOP
Dominique L. Cano/WHO/EOP@EOP
June G. Turner/WHO/EOP@EOP
Paul K. Engskov/WHO/EOP@EOP
Nancy V. Hernreich/WHO/EOP@EOP
Betty W. Currie/WHO/EOP@EOP
Charles J. Payson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Rebecca L. Walldorff/WHO/EOP@EOP
Steve Ricchetti/WHO/EOP@EOP
Joshua S. Gottheimer/WHO/EOP@EOP
Anne Whitworth/WHO/EOP@EOP
Loretta M. Ucelli/WHO/EOP@EOP
Karin Kullman/OPD/EOP@EOP
Kim B. Widdess/WHO/EOP@EOP
Sharon K. Gill/WHO/EOP@EOP
Sean P. O'Shea/WHO/EOP@EOP
Aprill N. Springfield/WHO/EOP@EOP
Joel Johnson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Justin L. Coleman/WHO/EOP@EOP
Victoria L. Valentine/WHO/EOP@EOP
Rachel A. Redington/WHO/EOP@EOP
Lindsay R. Drewel/WHO/EOP@EOP
Stephanie A. Cutter/WHO/EOP@EOP
Laura K. Demeo/WHO/EOP@EOP
Anne W. Bovaird/WHO/EOP@EOP
Leslie Bernstein/WHO/EOP@EOP
Scott Hynes/WHO/EOP@EOP
Michele Ballantyne/WHO/EOP@EOP
Fern Mechlowitz/WHO/EOP@EOP
Thurgood Marshall Jr/WHO/EOP@EOP
Tracey E. Thornton/WHO/EOP@EOP
Charles M. Brain/WHO/EOP@EOP
Martha Foley/WHO/EOP@EOP
Janelle E. Erickson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Roger S. Ballentine/WHO/EOP@EOP
Alphonse J. Maldon/WHO/EOP@EOP
Dario J. Gomez/WHO/EOP@EOP
Broderick Johnson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Lisa M. Kountoupes/WHO/EOP@EOP
Marty J. Hoffmann/WHO/EOP@EOP
Courtney C. Crouch/WHO/EOP@EOP
Joel K. Wiginton/WHO/EOP@EOP
Erica R. Morris/WHO/EOP@EOP
Joshua J. Ackil/WHO/EOP@EOP
Devanshu Patel/WHO/EOP@EOP
Hildy Kuryk/WHO/EOP@EOP
Brooke B. Livingston/WHO/EOP@EOP
Michael Williams/WHO/EOP@EOP
Bobby D. Conner/WHO/EOP@EOP
Lauren K. Gillespie/WHO/EOP@EOP
Rebecca Hunter/WHO/EOP
Brian S. Mason/WHO/EOP@EOP
Message Sent To:
Bruce N. Reed/OPD/EOP@EOP
Eric P. Liu/OPD/EOP@EOP
Anna Richter/OPD/EOP@EOP
Leanne A. Shimabukuro/OPD/EOP@EOP
Deanne E. Benos/OPD/EOP@EOP
1999 NAPO Top Cops
Alaska Department Public Safety; Division of State Troopers - Trooper Barry Croy
Trooper Croy received a report that 10 individuals had been held at gunpoint and robbed by five
persons demanding payment for safe passage in a remote, mountainous, uninhabited wilderness
area. Responding to the report, he navigated two plane flights for over four hours to reach the
scene of the crime. With the help of the victims and local residents, Croy found and captured
the five gunmen, many of whom attempted to evade or resist arrest. He was forced to fly alone
with the gunmen back to Fairbanks, AK, and managed to navigate a successful landing after a
plane engine failed. He booked the gunmen who were held on 10 counts each of armed robbery
and assault.
Los Angeles Police Department, California -- Officer Andy Azodi*, Officer Jude Bella,
Officer Ryan Clark**, Officer Chris Dunn*, Officer Kevin J. Foster, Officer Craig
Schofield Hewitt*, and Officer Chris Yzaguirre
These officers were called to backup two detectives, one of whom was injured, in pursuit of an
attempted murder suspect in a dark film studio. After their flashlight was met by gunfire from
the suspect, Officer Chris Yzaguirre quickly formulated a plan to save the injured detective, who
would not be able to wait for the SWAT team. To implement the plan, each officer was asked to
volunteer, and each officer made the conscious decision to risk his life to save a dying officer.
The team entered the dark building where an intense firefight took place. Officer Bella was shot
in the hand, knee, chest, and twice in the back. Officer Foster was hit in the hip, leg, and torso.
They continued their rescue attempt, stopping only when their loss of blood made them too weak
to continue. Eventually the SWAT team arrived and pulled out the injured detective, who later
died from the sustained wounds. The suspect was later found dead inside the warehouse due to a
self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
*
Officers Azodi, Dunn, and Schofield Hewitt are COPS-funded officers.
Officer Ryan Clark is now with the United States Army.
Connecticut State Police - Trooper First Class Michael Allard, Trooper Michael J.
Hoague, Trooper Mark Pelletier, and Trooper First Class James E. Reidy, Jr.
When State Troopers Pelletier and Hoague confronted a man, suspected of vandalizing a car, at
his home, the suspect pulled out a 9mm semi-automatic weapon from his waistband and shot
both troopers at close range. As the officers fired back, the suspect ran into his house, returning
seconds later with a high-powered rifle. Troopers Reidy and Allard arrived as backup, and
sustained injuries as they simultaneously tried to draw the suspects fire and pull the injured
troopers to safety. The suspect was quickly arrested as he attempted to flee the scene. The
police later found an arsenal in the suspect's home, including mines, pipe bombs, and grenades.
Chicago Police Department, Illinois - Sergeant James McMullin
Sergeant McMullin was on patrol when he heard a roaring sound and smelled natural gas - a 24-
inch gas main had ruptured just outside a building housing 200 senior citizens. He immediately
sounded the alarm and began evacuating residents, using sledgehammers to gain access into
apartments to be certain no one was left behind. He then discovered the boiler room was
connected to a second senior citizens home and if there were an explosion, residents of both
buildings would be in jeopardy. Indeed, just as the last resident was being evacuated, the gas
exploded in a massive fireball. Thanks to Sergeant McMullin's quick instincts, over 100
Chicago Police Department personnel, 145 Chicago Fire Department personnel and many other
public service employees were able to save the lives of 200 residents.
Detroit Police Department, Michigan - Officer James Henry Lightfoot, Jr., Lieutenant
Arthur McNamara, Sergeant Gasper Rossi, Sergeant Michael Stefani, Officer Steven Louis
Sosa, and Sergeant James Tolbert
These six Detroit police officers were assigned to execute a search warrant. After being invited
into the residence they were attacked by Robert Villareal, who began shooting with a semi-
automatic 9mm handgun. Sergeant Stefani was shot in the left hip and arm, and Sergeant
Tolbert was hit in his left leg and in the center of his chest. Sergeant Rossi and Officer Sosa
came to Tolbert's aid, while Lieutenant McNamara tried to both rescue Stefani and exchange
gunfire with the gunman. Officer Lightfoot also returned fire. All officers were protecting their
wounded at the same time as they were attempting to stop the gunman. The force of their fire
drove Villareal out of the house into the yard, where he fell dead. McNamara was rendered
disabled for one month, but hopes for a full recovery from the nerve damage and the wound he
sustained. Tolbert required a four-pint blood transfusion due to the enormous blood loss, and is
currently back to full duty. Stefani suffered extensive injuries and suffered seven hours of
surgery. He was confined to a wheelchair for several months, but has since recovered and
returned to full duty.
St. Joseph Police Department, Missouri - Officer Rebecca Caton, Sergeant Steven Gumm,
Officer Shawn Hamre, Sergeant Billy Paul Miller, Officer Henry Castaneda Pena, Officer
Roy W. Wedlow, Jr.*, and Sergeant Terry R. White
These officers, along with Officer Bradley Arn, responded to a high-priority call - a man with a
high-powered rifle was randomly shooting at vehicles at a street intersection and a citizen was
injured. Officer Arn was ambushed and killed by the sniper, leaving behind a wife and two-
year-old twin daughters. The sniper continued to fire bullets into the crowd from his MAC-90
assault weapon. From 44 yards away, Sergeant Miller fired two shots that struck the gunman
fatally in the head. These officers saved countless lives, as the gunman had fired some 200
rounds, killing Officer Arn and wounding four innocent civilians.
* Officer Wedlow is a COPS-funded officer.
Jersey City Police Department, New Jersey - Sergeant Heriberto Carattini
As Sergeant Carattini entered the district station house, he heard gunfire. Inside one officer was
pinned down, and another had been shot. When the assailant jumped up from behind the desk,
Carattini ordered the previously pinned officer to escape and call for backup and an ambulance,
and then turned to face the gunman alone. Just as he got to the injured officer, the gunman
charged. After the gunman refused an order to halt, Sergeant Carattini was forced to stop him
with a single gunshot to the chest. Both the injured lieutenant and the suspect survived, thanks
to Sergeant Carattini's cool head and extreme valor.
City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, New York - Detective Karl "Skip" Mannain
As a patrol officer, Detective Mannain led his department in felony arrests and excelled as a
neighborhood street crime narcotics detective. In April 1998 he responded to a hit-and-run
accident, where an unidentified Mexican immigrant had been killed. The next day, after
identifying the victim and arresting the driver who killed him, Detective Mannain decided to see
what else he could do for the victim's family. He discovered that the victim had been faithfully
sending money back to his family in Mexico, but that there was not enough money to send his
body home for a proper burial. Detective Mannain began a fundraising drive that raised
$28,000. In addition, he accompanied the body back to Mexico and presented the money to the
family.
Johnston Police Department, Rhode Island - Patrol Sergeant Michael A. Calenda and
Officer Thomas H. Dolan*
On his way to work, Officer Dolan apprehended a suspicious man running down the road, who
then opened fire on the officer. Dolan was saved by his bulletproof vest, but another round of
fire struck him in the face. Though seriously wounded, Dolan returned fire through his car
window and radioed a distress call, when he learned that the suspect had just carried off an
armed robbery nearby. The suspect ran into an industrial park, pursued by more than 60 police
officers that rushed to the scene in response to Dolan's distress call. Sergeant Calenda was fired
upon just as he apprehended the gunman about to fire on two other uniformed officers. Calenda
was forced to fire at the suspect, who was then taken into custody and transported to a local
hospital, where he later died.
*Officer Dolan is a COPS-funded officer.
United States Park Police, Washington, D.C. - Officer Kevin J. Nieves and Officer Robert
Louis Freeman, III
Officer Freeman pulled over a vehicle for speeding at 80 miles an hour in crowded traffic. He
immediately knew something was wrong - the car had a Maryland "dealer" plate, but the driver
had a North Carolina license and no registration. The car was stolen. As Officer Nieves arrived
to assist, the driver pulled a 9mm pistol, shooting Freeman in the stomach at point blank range
and also firing at Nieves. Although both had been injured, the officers returned fire, killing the
suspect before he was able to kill them or injure commuters driving by. They later discovered
that the driver was a violent felon, convicted of attempted murder, who was on the run. The gun
he used had originally been stolen, and the gunman had purchased it paying with crack cocaine.
Paul D. Glastris
10/20/99 07:47:33 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: draft of NAPO remarks--comments back ASAP please
Draft 10/20/99 7:45 p.m.
Glastris
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS AT NAPO TOP COPS EVENT
ROSE GARDEN, THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, DC
October 21, 1999
Acknowledgments: Dep. AG Eric Holder; Senators Biden and Leahy; Rep Stupak;
NAPO Pres. Tom Scotto; NAPO Exec. Dir. Bob Scully [a great friend of this administration
and a great fighter for the COPS program]; new COPS Director Tom Frazier [former
Baltimore police commissioner];
In 1968, Robert Kennedy said that the fight against crime is "a fight to preserve that
quality of community which is at the root of our greatness." The men and women we honor
here today are at the forefront of that fight, and exemplify that greatness. They are true
American heroes.
They have performed astonishing acts of valor and humanity. Crossing the line of fire
to rescue downed fellow officers. Being shot and wounded, yet managing to return fire and
subdue the assailant. Flying across the Alaskan wilderness to single-handedly capture five
armed kidnappers. Spotting a dangerous gas leak and evacuating 200 citizens moments before
their apartment building exploded. These and other amazing stories aren't from TV shows.
They actually happened. They represent, in dramatic form, the kind of professional police
work that goes on every day across this country. Just last week, three brave officers were
ambushed and killed, and two others were wounded, by a gunman in Pleasonton, Texas. We
mourn their passing, and offer our prayers for their families. Every day, police officers put
on their badges and uniforms, knowing that at any moment, they, too, may be called upon put
their own lives on the line to protect the American people.
Because of their efforts, America today is a significantly safer place. This week, the
Justice Department reported that the crime fell again last year, in all categories and all parts of
the country. The murder rate is now at a 31 year low. Crime has been dropping now for
seven straight years, making this longest consecutive decline in crime ever recorded.
Seven years ago, it looked to many people as if the crime rate was fated to rise forever;
that the police were powerless to stop it; and that there was nothing the federal government
could or should do about it. I didn't share that view. Since my days as Attorney General of
Arkansas 20 years ago, I had worked with police departments. Attended the funerals of too
many fallen officers. And seen first hand the dramatic difference that good police work can
make.
When I ran for President, I said we could make America safer by helping local
communities put 100,000 new police officers on the street, to walk beats, to apprehend
criminals, help neighborhood groups chase away drug dealers, and prevent crime from
happening in the first place. After I became President, and with the vital support of NAPO,
we passed the crime bill in 1994. We began our COPS program. We toughened penalties, and
passed the Brady Bill and the assault weapons ban, to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
Today, on the fifth anniversary of the COPS program, we have already funded over
100,000 police officers, ahead of time and under budget. Anyone who doubts that these police
officers have made a difference should consider this: 5 of the 32 officers we honor today were
funded under our COPS program.
I am grateful, and America is grateful, for the bravery, the dedication, and the plain
hard work of our nation's police officers who have helped bring the crime rate down for seven
years now. But I doubt that there is an officer in this room, or a citizen in this nation, who
thinks the crime rate is low enough.
That is why I have called on Congress to do more of what we know works. Put up to
50,000 more police on the street, especially in our highest-crime neighborhoods. Hire 5000
new community prosecutors to work with police and local residents. Provide police
departments with the latest, best crime fighting technology, from better communications
systems so police from different jurisdictions can talk to each other, to crime mapping systems
that allow police to see criminal patterns and pinpoint hotspots.
I believe there is bipartisan support for this. We see that in the broad backing that
Senator Biden has received for his bill that would extend the life of the COPS program for
another five years. I hope Congress passes Sen. Biden's bill, and if they do, I'll sign it.
If we do these things, we can move dramatically closer to what I believe should be our
long-term goal: to make America the safest big nation on earth.
Unfortunately, the Republican majority in Congress has produced a budget bill that
drastically cuts our COPS program. Their bill would mean 4000 fewer new police officers
this year alone. It would mean no community prosecutors. No new crime fighting
technology. This makes no sense. Why, when crime is dropping, would you want to cut your
most successful crime-fighting tool? That's like tracking a criminal, cornering him, then
letting him go.
I expressed my views two days ago, in a meeting with congressional leaders of both
parties at the White House. We agreed to work together in a bipartisan spirit to resolve our
differences, make the tough choices, and reach an overall agreement on a budget that lives
within its means and lives up to the values of the American people. There is no greater value
than the safety of our citizens. So I call on Congress to fully fund our COPS program, put
more police officers on the street, and pass a balance, bipartisan juvenile crime bill that keeps
guns out of the wrong hands.
I believe that by working together, we can make this a season of progress. We can
lengthen the life of Social Security and Medicare, invest in 100,000 new teachers, protect the
environment, strengthen national defense, and make America the safest big nation on earth.
If we do, then the greatness that Robert F. Kennedy talked about in 1968, we can achieve in
the 21st Century.
Thank you and God bless you.
Message Sent To:
Bruce N. Reed/OPD/EOP@EOP
Cathy R. Mays/OPD/EOP@EOP
Anna Richter/OPD/EOP@EOP
Eric P. Liu/OPD/EOP@EOP
Leanne A. Shimabukuro/OPD/EOP@EOF
Deanne E. Benos/OPD/EOP@EOP
Joshua S. Gottheimer/WHO/EOP@EOP
Terry Edmonds/WHO/EOP@EOP
Linda Ricci/OMB/EOP@EOP
Karin Kullman/OPD/EOP@EOP
REMARKS FOR NAPO TOP COPS AWARDS
October 21, 1999
I want to thank President Clinton, [Senator Biden], Attorney General Janet Reno, and Deputy
Attorney General Eric Holder for standing with law enforcement through thick and thin.
I remember back in 1992 when the Governor of Arkansas came to NAPO and asked us to
support him in his bid for the Presidency.
I remember when he told us that he would support an increase of 100,000 additional law
enforcement officers if he became President.
I remember that we believed him, we put our trust and our faith in him -- and he delivered.
Never once have we had a reason to question your support, Mr. President.
Seven years later the promise of 100,000 more law enforcement officers is a reality. More
than half are already on the street and the rest will be there as soon as they can be hired and
trained. These are good union jobs for men and women who put on their badges and put
their lives on the line to protect America every day.
Moreover, Mr. President, I want to thank you for appointing leaders at the Justice
Department like Janet Reno and Eric Holder. They understand what law enforcement is all
about, they have listened to us, and they have made themselves available time and again.
we support efforth to and
The strong partnership between law enforcement and the Clinton Administration is paying
real dividends for the American people. Crime is down for the 7th year in a row. And it is
down all across America. Through your leadership, Mr. President, we now) have the tools
thanever
and the officers than ever to protect America.
more
Mr. President, standing behind you are America's TOP COPS. Each one is a living example
of all that a law enforcement officer should be. They walk the thin blue line every day, and
we are all safer because of it.
What do we ask in return? A day's pay for a day's work. The men and women of law
enforcement willingly - and I repeat - willingly, put their lives on the line every tour they
serve. They deserve decent pay. They deserve decent benefits, and they deserve a decent
pension.
Mr. President, no one has done more to support the men and women of law enforcement. For
that, every man and woman at NAPO and their children thank you.
Now, I have the high privilege to introduce you to the President of the United States, Bill
Clinton.
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United States Department of Justice
10th and Constitution Ave. NW
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THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S LAW
ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY:
DRAFT
INOLOGY AND
INFORMATION
A RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
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003
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY ON FIGHTING CRIME WITH
21st CENTURY TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION
President Clinton and Attorney General Reno, working with state, local and tribal law
enforcement officials, have launched a major effort to help America's communities fight crime.
Over the course of the past six years, the Clinton Administration has helped unite federal, state,
tribal and local crime control efforts, directed new resources into local efforts for crime fighting
and crime prevention, and worked hand-in-hand with local law enforcement and local
communities. These efforts have paid off. Six years into this strategy, crime has dropped to its
lowest level in a quarter of a century.
The Clinton Administration's crime fighting efforts are taking place at a time of rapid
advances in technology. New technologies have generated innovative tools for law enforcement
to detect illegal activity, conduct investigations, identify, locate, arrest and prosecute those who
violate the law, and monitor convicted criminals. But new technologies have also bred a new
kind of criminal activity: cybercrime - the use of computers and computer networks to commit
crime. And, the new tools of the information age have created new challenges to protecting
personal privacy. The Clinton Administration is working to prepare America's law enforcement
agencies for the 21st Century by deploying new and effective crime fighting tools, working to
control crime in cyberspace and limiting the impact of new technologies on individual privacy.
Over the past six years, the Administration has developed and deployed new law
enforcement technologies to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. With the help of
the federal government, many law enforcement agencies now use advanced technological tools to
identify criminal suspects by their DNA, generally predict where criminal activity is likely to
happen in time to prevent it, find criminals through a national system of computerized
fingerprints and apprehend criminals more safely with less-than-lethal weapons. The
Administration has proposed to continue to put technology to work fighting crime with $350
million for FY 2000 to help police stay ahead of every generation of criminals every place crime
occurs - from the street corner to cyberspace.
The Administration has developed new strategies to control the growing problem of
cybercrime. In the past decade, more and more people around the globe have started logging on
to the Internet. Since 1991, there has been over a 500% increase in the number of computer
intrusions, with nearly 42% of American businesses reporting computer break-ins. The
Administration has responded by working with Congress to pass tougher laws for cybercrime and
by aggressively enforcing the criminal laws aimed at protecting people from crime on the
Internet.
The Federal government has an essential role to play in the area of technology and crime.
States and localities simply do not have the resources, training or expertise to develop advanced
approaches to crime fighting technology on their own. Research and development, standard-
setting, and education and training are all conducted most efficiently and effectively at the
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004
national level. The Administration has stepped forward to meet this challenge, to establ h this
infrastructure and to provide states, tribes and localities with an ability to fight crime with
technology at a level they simply could not achieve on their own.
Finally, as important as the new technology we develop is our own continuing
commitment to safeguard the privacy of Americans. The Clinton Administration has put in place
protections to assure that private information is secure.
The opportunities and the challenges for law enforcement in this new age of technology
are tremendous. The Clinton Administration is working to ensure that all law enforcement
agencies across the country are ready to meet this challenge.
I.
HARNESSING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO FIGHT CRIME
Over the course of the past century, advances in technology have made law enforcement
more and more effective. The development of fingerprinting in the 1900s and of crime
laboratories in the 1920s helped police solve what were unsolvable crimes. Using the two-way
radio and automobiles in the 1930s, police could respond to more incidents in an hour than they
could previously respond to in a whole day. In more recent decades, personal computers have
allowed police to process greater amounts of information more quickly, and solve an even greater
number of crimes. Now, through the leadership of the Clinton Administration, the nation is
taking another giant technological step forward.
The Administration is helping states, localities and tribes to computerize their records to
make sure they are complete, accurate and accessible. It is also working to develop DNA
identification technology to assist law enforcement in solving crimes - exonerating the innocent
and convicting the guilty - in situations never before possible. At the same time, the
Administration is transforming fingerprint identification into a faster, more effective law
enforcement tool. By establishing several modern regional forensic laboratories, the
Administration is using federal resources to make the latest crime fighting tools accessible to
states, tribes and localities that never had such technologies available before. And through
development of new computer and communications technologies, the Administration has helped
to link the communication and information systems of federal, state, local and tribal law
enforcement agencies in ways that make them profoundly more efficient and effective at using
information to prevent and solve crimes and to catch criminals. The Administration has also
worked to develop body armor and other devices that will save the lives of hundreds of law
enforcement officers nationwide. The Administration has brought new technologies to state,
local, and tribal law enforcement. And, federal law enforcement agencies, most notably the FBI,
are also using these new technologies themselves in carrying out their law enforcement duties.
Criminal History Records and Information Sharing
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A basic building block in our use of technology to fight crime is computerization of state
and federal criminal history records and the availability of this information to all law
enforcement agencies. Criminals now routinely operate across state and national boundaries,
requiring law enforcement to be able to quickly share information among jurisdictions to find
fugitives, solve crimes, and adjudicate criminal cases. The Administration has taken a major
leadership role in encouraging states, tribes and localities to modernize the way they collect
information, enter it into computer databases, and share it with other jurisdictions. Starting in
1995, the National Criminal History Improvement Program has given over $200 million to law
enforcement agencies to improve, complete, and standardize their record keeping. The FBI has
been at the center of this national effort, creating a national network of information that allows
local law enforcement to identify fugitives from justice, allows gun dealers to refuse sales to
criminals convicted in other states, allows courts to enforce child support orders issued in other
jurisdictions, and allows state and local law enforcement to more easily collaborate to fight crime
across state borders.
DNA
Forensic DNA analysis has the potential to
DNA Law Enforcement Milestones
become as powerful an investigative tool for law
enforcement in the 21st Century as fingerprints
In 1994, President Clinton
have been in this century. DNA, or
signed the DNA Identification
deoxyribonucleic acid, carries the genetic code of
Act, part of the 1994 Crime Bill,
each human being. Like fingerprints, each person's
that authorized the FBI to
DNA is unique (except for identical twins). DNA
establish the Combined DNA
is present in every living cell and allows law
Index System (CODIS), a
enforcement to identify suspects by analyzing any
computerized DNA database
blood, hair, skin, semen, or other biological
material left at a crime scene. By comparing even
In 1996, an Administration-
microscopic amounts of DNA left at a crime scene
funded study conducted by the
with those of a known suspect, DNA can link
National Academy of Sciences
criminals to their crimes with stunning accuracy.
concluded that there was no
For example, DNA lifted from residual cells in the
longer any reason for courts to
hatband of a baseball cap left at a murder scene
question the reliability of DNA
enabled federal agents to identify the killer of an
evidence.
FBI agent.
Over the past six years, the Administration
has made DNA technology more accessible to tribal, state and local police. We have developed
and promulgated standards for quality control that state and local law enforcement can use to
ensure that DNA evidence is accurate and persuasive in court. In 1998, the FBI implemented a
national computer database of DNA profiles of convicted offenders and unknown suspects based
on DNA samples from crime scenes. State and local agencies can now compare samples they
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obtain from crime scenes with DNA profiles already in the FBI database.
DNA evidence can also exonerate those wrongly accused or convicted of a crime. M
than 50 people mistakenly convicted of felonies have been freed from prison on the basis of
DNA evidence.
There is more work to be done to realize the full potential of this extraordinarily reliable
method of linking criminals to their crimes. The Administration is seeking $20 million in
funding to build a national infrastructure for DNA evidence through a number of new initiatives.
Building a national DNA indexing system. Recently, the FBI established a
national DNA indexing system containing samples of DNA from 140,000
convicted criminals and from 6,500 crime scenes. The FBI is currently operating
this system with more than 102 crime laboratories in 43 states to allow state and
local law enforcement agencies to look for DNA matches, free of charge. Right
now, over 650,000 additional DNA samples obtained from convicted offenders
and suspects have been collected for entry into the national database for DNA
prints; but they cannot be accessed until they are analyzed and placed in the
database. A first priority is to eliminate the backlog entirely, and we are working
to do that.
Improving DNA analysis. The Administration is also working hard to refine
techniques to analyze mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA, because it is so
plentiful in human cells, is even easier than other types of DNA to find at crime
scenes and has the potential to solve cases where the DNA is not from whole
living cells. This technology is currently used infrequently, but additional
resources can reduce the cost and labor associated with mitochondrial DNA
testing.
Reducing the costs of and time required for DNA tests. DNA tests are still fairly
expensive. Also, it typically takes several days to process a DNA sample, and can
take weeks or months to run the samples through the database. The
Administration has just begun a five-year initiative to reduce the cost of DNA
tests from $700 a test to less than $10 a test, to reduce the test time from hours to
minutes and to increase the reliability of DNA evidence collected from even
minute samples.
Fingerprinting
Throughout most of this century, fingerprint evidence has been the most persuasive and
conclusive type of evidence in court. DNA evidence is often unavailable and is still in its
infancy; so, when fingerprints are located, law enforcement continues to rely on them as the
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single most precise way to identify potential suspects and other individuals.
The Clinton Administration has worked to improve the utility and reliability of
fingerprint data. While fingerprints have been used as evidence for many years, there remain
several problems with the collection, storage, and retrieval of fingerprint data. First, fingerprint
evidence is not always easy for police to obtain. Most fingerprints are invisible to the naked eye,
and law enforcement officials must use special techniques to transfer fingerprints from the crime
scene to the evidence locker. Traditionally, police have lifted prints from crime scenes by dusting
them with a special kind of powder that makes them visible, and then imprinting the visible
image onto a piece of paper. Although obtaining fingerprints in this manner is reliable, the
method has its limits - for example, police often have trouble lifting prints from uneven surfaces;
once collected, police historically have
stored fingerprints on index cards in file
Advances in Fingerprinting Technology
cabinets or have used other non-
During the Clinton Administration
computerized storage, 50 that prints are not
accessible to other agencies, or even other
The Administration has funded
precincts; unless a suspect is already known,
research to develop more versatile
matching prints the traditional way is a
and affordable chemicals for lifting
tedious and time consuming chore because
fingerprints.
prints must be compared by hand. With the
help of the Clinton Administration, these
The FBI, with the assistance of other
practices are being replaced by more
agencies, has developed the Integrated
efficient and effective fingerprint analysis.
Automated Fingerprint Identification
System (IAFIS), which stores
Over the past six years, the Clinton
fingerprints and allows law
Administration has developed and is
enforcement officials to search stored
implementing a comprehensive plan to
prints.
improve fingerprinting technologies. This
plan has three major elements:
Improving the methods of lifting prints at a crime scene. New methods cause
older prints and partial prints to yield reliable and useful results. The Clinton
Administration worked with Congress to obtain funding for improvements in the
way law enforcement gathers and records fingerprints.
Promoting computerization of fingerprint files in local agencies. Hundreds of
state, local and tribal police departments have used federal funding to build a
capacity to store, and more importantly, to match fingerprints in a computerized
database. In these jurisdictions, police no longer search manually through
fingerprint cards; instead, they can scan a crime scene print into the computer, and
then search for a match. Since the 1980s, many states and localities have created
computerized fingerprint databases, making it far easier to identify and help
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convict a suspect just by having the criminal's fingerprints.
Creating a network for fingerprint databases among federal, state and
enforcement agencies. Such a network would permit police officers anywho
the country to compare a fingerprint lifted from a crime scene with the millions
prints on file throughout the nation. The Administration is working to complete
the development of one nationwide, integrated fingerprint database of major
offenders, known as the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System
(IAFIS). This database was deployed in July 1999. For FY 2000, the
Administration has proposed $70 million to enable the states to access the
database, containing 38 million fingerprints, collected by federal, state, local and
tribal agencies, of persons convicted of certain offenses under state, federal and
tribal law. The database, when completed, will be able respond to electronic
criminal fingerprint inquiries in two hours or less, and will cross-reference the
convicts' criminal histories and outstanding arrest warrants, as well as stolen
vehicle information. It is open around the clock, every day of the year. This is a
vast improvement over past response times. The historic fingerprint backlog has
been overtaken by technology advances.
Using Other Forensic Technologies and Building Modern Forensic Laboratories
Fingerprints and DNA prints are not the only types of forensic evidence police use to
identify criminals and solve crimes. For example, police can enhance security camera tapes to
create a clearer picture or restore a seemingly inaudible tape recording. The FBI and the
Department of the Treasury's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) can now create
and store images of the identifying characteristics of bullet and cartridge casings collected from
crime scenes. These images can be compared with previously collected images to link crimes.
The FBI and the ATF are developing a system - the National Integrated Ballistics Identification
Network (NIBIN) that enables their previously independent databases to communicate, greatly
increasing their information sharing capabilities and the likelihood of linking criminals to their
crimes.
Through the efforts of the Clinton Administration, tribal, state, and local agencies have
been able to upgrade their forensic laboratories and techniques. In 1994, the Administration
funded the creation of four regional technology centers that provide forensic support to tribal,
state and local agencies and several other specialized technology centers across the country. The
centers have helped police departments test crime scene evidence, obtain better forensic
technology and train their personnel on how to use it.
The Administration has proposed new initiatives to further improve state, local, and tribal
law enforcement technology capacity in FY 2000. The Administration is seeking $10 million to
continue the support of the Justice Department sponsored technology centers and $55 million
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grant money to assist tribal, state and local police in improving their own forensic laboratories,
including improvements in their DNA testing and other forensic capabilities.
Computer and Communications Technologies
Computers and communication technologies have revolutionized day-to-day police work
and made police more effective and more efficient. Computers have freed police from time-
consuming administrative work and, as a result, police now have more time and better tools to
patrol our streets and keep our neighborhoods safe.
COMPUTERS. Police work has traditionally involved a significant amount of paperwork -
writing tickets and citations, filling out reports and booking suspects. With the development and
deployment of new technologies, police can enter information they collect at a crime scene
directly into a laptop computer in their police car and send it electronically to the station for
processing.
Computers can also be used to support electronic databases containing everything from
fingerprints and DNA profiles to mug shots and criminal history records. The FBI's IAFIS
database, for instance, already contains the associated criminal history for each of its over 34
million fingerprint profiles. Mug shots will be added to the database in the next year. Even with
advances in recent years, however, there is still too much information in paper files, or on
multiple, incompatible computer systems.
The Administration has funded programs to help state, local, and tribal law enforcement
agencies computerize their operations. Under the COPS MORE program alone, part of the
Administration's program to place 100,000 additional officers on the streets in part by freeing
them up from desk work, the Administration has provided over $704 million in technology
grants. With this program and others, agencies have been able to create automated booking
procedures with digital cameras and special computer software. These programs, working in
tandem with the National Criminal History Improvement Program, have also made funds
available for computerizing and updating criminal history records. The Administration has
funded projects to make data systems compatible, in order to facilitate the exchange of
information among police agencies. More recently, the Administration has taken a leading role
in developing an integrated database that draws upon computerized information from all federal,
state, local, and tribal criminal justice agencies - a single, "global" network of information.
Ready access to this information resource, once it is online, will provide law enforcement
officers the information they need, when they need it, wherever they need it, in the office or on
the street.
The Administration is now proposing $70 million for FY 2000 under COPS CONECT
(Community Oriented Networking and Enhanced Communications Technology) to assist state,
local, and tribal agencies in purchasing laptop computers and networking software, $50 million
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to those agencies in upgrading their criminal history records and crime identification technology
systems, and another $20 million toward the integration of these systems.
CRIME MAPPING. A new, cutting edge technology - crime mapping - allows law
enforcement to link information about crimes with other information about a community, such as
housing patterns, locations of streets, schools, recreation areas, police stations, and businesses.
By combining this information with sophisticated computer analysis, crime mapping can be used
to identify patterns of crime. Police can use these patterns to predict where (and when) crime is
likely to occur again.
With this information, law enforcement agencies
Department of Justice
can focus their patrols in crime "hot spots," (areas where
Crime Mapping Programs
crime is especially concentrated) making it far more
difficult for criminals to commit crimes. Crime mapping
COMPASS (Community
has been a great success in communities where it has
Mapping, Planning, and
been implemented, but most police agencies do not have
Analysis for Safety Strategies)
access to this technology. Less than one-third of police
funding implementation of
departments with more than 100 officers - and less than
crime mapping strategies.
three percent of smaller departments - are using
computerized crime mapping technology today.
COPS/MORE funding for
technology and personnel as
The Administration is seeking $30 million in FY
part of a program to place
2000, and each year through 2004, to equip 22
30,000 50,000 more police on
communities with the most sophisticated crime mapping
the streets, including crime
software currently available. This new program, called
mapping technologies.
COMPASS, continues research and development already
being undertaken by the Administration and will give
Establishment of the Crime
local law enforcement an important tool to stop crime at
Mapping Research Center at the
the best time possible - before it happens.
National Institute of Justice.
COMMUNICATIONS. Ensuring public safety often
Establishment of CMAP to
requires effective coordination among many different
provide technical assistance and
public safety agencies. Every day, law enforcement
training to tribal, state and local
officers are called upon to respond to crimes that cross
agencies for crime mapping and
state or local jurisdictions. Currently, however, many law
intelligence analysis.
enforcement and other public agencies have incompatible
communication systems. As a result, law enforcement
officials from different agencies often cannot talk directly
to one another over their radios. Public safety agencies discovery - all too often during an
emergency - that they cannot mount a well-coordinated emergency response. Compatible
communication systems not only ensure the delivery of more effective public safety services to
communities, but also improve the safety and efficiency of law enforcement personnel.
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The Administration is supporting interagency communications improvement
The
Department of Justice has worked with industry manufacturers and other industry groups to
develop standards for police radios to make sure that new systems are compatible with one
another. The Administration has also helped state, local and tribal agencies solve their
interoperability problems and funded their purchase of communication systems that meet
standards for compatibility. Many of these efforts have been directed toward equipping these
agencies with the latest wireless technology. The Administration has proposed $80 million in FY
2000 to fund planning grants, as well as technical assistance and demonstration grants to states to
advance this effort.
Life-Saving Technologies
Funding for Body Armor
Law enforcement officers risk their
In 1998, President Clinton signed the
lives every day to protect us, our families,
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of
and our communities. This is especially true
1998, which authorized a three-year total of
when they are pursuing or confronting
$75 million to be spent exclusively on body
suspects. Recent advances in technology can
armor grants for state and local police
greatly reduce the risk of injury. The
forces.
Clinton Administration has taken a number
of steps to make this technology available to
state, local and tribal law enforcement throughout the nation.
PROTECTIVE BODY ARMOR. The Administration has helped to ensure that federal, state,
local and tribal police officers have access to effective life saving body armor. The Departments
of Justice and Defense have collaborated to develop body armor that is lighter and more easily
concealed, but strong enough to withstand rifle and handgun bullets at close range. The
Administration has also disseminated nationwide performance standards and a testing program
for body armor. By developing these standards and testing over 1,500 models, the
Administration has given smaller police agencies the information they need to make sure that the
armor they buy is the best available. The Administration has also helped local police agencies
purchase body armor. Body armor meeting these standards and purchased under this program
has saved the lives of some 2,100 law enforcement personnel.
HANDLING DANGEROUS SUSPECTS. When apprehending a dangerous or armed criminal
suspect, law enforcement officers have often had to choose between physically restraining the
suspect (which is dangerous to the officers) and using their guns or batons to subdue the suspect
(which is dangerous to the suspect). The Administration is committed to providing law
enforcement tools to handle dangerous suspects while minimizing the risk of harm to police, the
public and the suspect. Administration funded research is currently exploring a wide range of
less-than-lethal weapon technologies - everything from pellet bags to capture nets. The
Administration has also funded development of a tool, the retractable Road SpikeᵀM, to puncture
the tires of a fleeing vehicle, inducing a slow and safe controlled stop and thus putting an end to a
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potentially dangerous high-speed chase.
Federal Agencies Use of 21" Century Technologies
The Administration is committed to making 21st Century technology available to state,
local, and tribal officials. At the same time, federal law enforcement agencies are using a wide
range of new technologies to strengthen federal law enforcement capabilities.
PROTECTING THE BORDER. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and the
U.S. Customs Service are pioneering the use of many technologies in their efforts to protect our
nation's borders. The INS is using fingerprinting technology to track border crossers so they can
identify smugglers and criminal aliens returning illegally to the United States. The INS is also
installing a computer-coordinated web of motion sensors and cameras along hard to monitor
stretches of the Mexico-U.S. border. Working together, INS and the Customs Service have
started remotely staffing key border crossings along the Canadian-American border with robotic
cameras and remotely operated road-blocking mechanisms. The U.S. Customs Service is now
using both mobile and fixed-site x-ray machines to check trucks and other large vehicles for
contraband contained in hidden compartments.
To facilitate the smooth flow of legal vehicle traffic at ports of entry, the Administration
has also begun to use a system that identifies legal vehicles electronically, and allows INS agents
to verify visually occupants' identities by comparing the current occupants against digital images
of those who are supposed to be traveling in the vehicle. At small northern border crossings,
local residents can now use automated ports when staff are not on duty. These automated ports
use video imaging to allow entry to local residents who are frequent low-risk border crossers in
remote areas, but preventing entry of others in order to safeguard the integrity of the northern
border. These new tools enhance enforcement and reduce fraudulent entry into the country.
IMPROVING SECURITY AT FEDERAL PRISONS. The Federal Bureau of Prisons has
installed perimeter detecting systems and heartbeat detector systems to increase prison security,
and has begun using "telemedicine," which brings medical treatment and evaluation to prison
inmates from off-site hospitals, clinics, or offices by video. Telemedicine costs less and lessens
the chance of prisoner escape when inmates are transported from prisons to facilities for
treatment. Video teleconferencing is being used by federal courts to conduct hearings while the
prisoner remains in custody. This minimizes the risks of prisoner movement, protects law
enforcement personnel and can expedite the hearing process. Federal authorities are also using
sophisticated electronic monitoring to supervise the activities and whereabouts of pre-trial
detainees and parolees.
HALTING COUNTERFEITING. The Department of the Treasury is developing new anti-
counterfeiting technologies, including the issue of redesigned, harder to copy currency, such as
the new $100, $50, and $20 bills. New $10 and $5 bills will be printed in the next few years.
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PROTECTING AGAINST TERRORISM. The Administration has made the safe federal
facilities and other high security sites a priority. Among other steps taken, the Secret
ce
has
installed new sensors capable of detecting biochemical as well as traditional threats to high-
security sites. The Administration is funding research to develop a type of personal alarm to be
worn by law enforcement officers that monitors and alerts the officer to the presence of
hazardous agents and the need to use special protective gear.
The FBI is also developing a system for exchange of terrorist-related forensic data
through secure telecommunications links that will allow forensic scientists from participating
countries around the world to enter and retrieve data from three separate FBI forensic databases.
This will make it easier for investigators to analyze data and identify suspects in international
terrorism incidents. Historically, this exchange of information had to be conducted by mail, or by
diplomatic pouch. The ability of this system to store, retrieve and transmit forensic data rapidly,
accurately and securely significantly enhances international law enforcement capabilities in
response to international terrorist incidents.
SLOWING THE DRUG TRADE. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is using
technology to target the source of illegal drugs flowing into the United States, and to monitor the
drug distribution networks within the states. In cooperation with foreign countries throughout
the world, the DEA has created a database containing information regarding growing methods
and soil components used in the cultivation of drugs throughout the world. With this
information, DEA agents can chemically analyze seized drugs and match those results with the
database samples to identify where a particular shipment of drugs originated. The Department of
Justice is also now able to track the movements of suspected drug dealers across state lines,
which enables investigators to understand better the current distribution networks of the drug
trade. Having this data allows law enforcement agents at all levels to target their resources most
effectively to stopping the influx of drugs into the United States.
П.
FIGHTING CYBERCRIME
Computers and the growth of the Internet have generated justifiable excitement over the
past few years. The introduction of these new technologies has brought a new type of crime -
cybercrime. Cybercrime generally has taken one of three forms.
First, computer criminals target computers for their offenses. With computer software
that can break passwords, computer criminals have raided data files to steal inventions and other
sensitive information, stolen money by illegally transferring it into to their own bank accounts,
and unleashed dangerous and devastating computer viruses that can do everything from distorting
data to obliterating it, costing American businesses millions of dollars in delays and lost business
opportunities and disrupting local, state and even federal government agencies. Recent studies
confirm that this type of cybercrime is on the rise, with 30% of computer security professionals
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reporting that their computer systems were penetrated by outsiders.
The Administration has made it a priority to stop the
"TW]e are already DRAFT seeing
proliferation of this type of cybercrime. In 1996, the President
signed the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act
the first wave of
of 1996, which protects the confidentiality, integrity, and
deliberate cyber attacks
-
availability of data and computer systems. In addition, on
hackers break into
February 27, 1998, the Attorney General announced the
government and business
formation of the National Infrastructure Protection Center at
computers, stealing and
FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Center is a joint
destroying information,
government and private sector partnership, including
raiding bank accounts,
representatives from the relevant agencies of federal, state, and
running up credit card
local governments, and the private sector, to address the
charges, extorting money
daunting challenge of protecting the critical infrastructures on
by threats to unleash
which our nation depends.
computer viruses."
President Clinton
A second type of cybercrime that has emerged is the
(January 22, 1999)
use of computers as tools to commit crimes and engage in
activities that are heavily regulated or flatly prohibited both on
and off the Internet, such as gambling, prostitution, the distribution of child pornography and the
sale of prescription drugs, guns, and alcohol. Law enforcement officials are also grappling with
how to address the recent proliferation of websites detailing how to commit a whole range of
crimes - from how to make a bomb or hack into a computer to how to hire a hit man and get
away with murder. The Administration has responded swiftly to this type of cybercrime as well.
President Clinton has signed into law several measures to protect society from cybercrime and
increase the penalties for traditional crimes when they are committed using a computer, including
the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act of 1996 and the Economic Espionage Act.
Yet another kind of cybercrime involves criminals using computers to strengthen their
own criminal enterprises. Narcotics dealers, for example, may use personal computers to store
records pertaining to drug trafficking instead of relying on old-fashioned ledgers. The
Administration has worked hard with state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to develop
procedures for collecting this computer-based evidence. Law enforcement personnel need to
know what hardware and software to seize, how to preserve the information contained in
computers, how to access that information for investigative purposes, and how to make sure that
computer evidence can be used against criminals at trial. Special techniques are needed to
recover the damaged or deleted files that often provide critical evidence in electronic
investigations.
The Administration has supported and enhanced the efforts of law enforcement to fight
cybercrime. The Attorney General has made law enforcement capabilities to identify, investigate
and stop cybercrime a priority and has fully supported the work of the Justice Department's
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dedicated computer crime units - the FBI's two high-tech squads and the Computer Crime and
Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) within the Criminal Division. These specialized units
work actively with other government agencies and with the private sector to develop a unified,
global response to the threats of cybercrime. Also, in early 1995, the Department of Justice
initiated the Computer / Telecommunications Coordinator program, under which each of the 93
United States Attorney's Offices has designated at least one Assistant United States Attorney to
serve as an in-house high-technology expert. CCIPS provides special training to these
prosecutors on the rapidly changing technological and legal issues. Our aggressive response has
produced results: during fiscal years 1997 and 1998 combined, the federal government indicted
over 1,600 people for cybercrimes.
Cybercrime poses unique challenges to law enforcement. In cyberspace, criminals can
mask their identities and remain anonymous and encryption allows criminals to disguise the
contents of their documents. Law enforcement must continue to develop its investigative
activities and capabilities with proper regard for the privacy rights associated with online
activities.
III. PRIVACY
Advances in technology offer great promise for improving our ability to protect
Americans from crime, but they can present new challenges to our personal privacy. Many
valuable crime fighting technologies, if used improperly, would interfere with the privacy of law-
abiding citizens. New technology increases the opportunity for individuals or businesses acting
on their own to access confidential personal information using a computer and the Internet and to
do everything from simple snooping to outright "identity theft" the act of stealing personal
information from a computer database and using that information to make purchases or access
sensitive information. The Administration has taken active steps to ensure that the public does
not pay for the rise of technology with the loss of individual privacy.
In 1998, President Clinton issued an Executive Memorandum on Privacy. Attorney
General Janet Reno implemented the President's directive by forming a Privacy Council within
the Department of Justice. This Council, made up of representatives from the relevant
components of the Department, including the FBI, the DEA and the Office of Information and
Privacy, evaluates proposed legislation for its impact on personal privacy, examines the impact
of new law enforcement technologies on individual privacy, identifies new issues of and
recommendations for privacy policy and ensures that the Department complies with the federal
Privacy Act. The Department has also vigorously prosecuted cases where law enforcement
overstepped the bounds and violated the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which is
designed to protect the privacy of telephone conversations and online correspondence.
The Attorney General's Privacy Council has also reviewed the Administration's efforts to
assure that as we develop DNA as a forensic tool, we also take steps to ensure that DNA
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016
databases are maintained in a way that best safeguards law-abiding citizens from intrusions
OF
privacy:
DNA is collected only from known offenders and unknown suspects and not the
general public;
The portions of DNA used to identify persons reveal nothing about a person's
physical characteristics, behavior, genetic diseases, or other private information;
and
Access to these databases is limited to law enforcement agents with the proper
credentials.
The Administration also has taken a lead in protecting online privacy. Last year,
President Clinton signed a bill that makes "identity theft" a crime. With stiffer penalties for
federal crimes involving both fraud and a significant invasion of individual privacy, the Justice
Department can now crack down on businesses or individuals who engage in fraudulent schemes
or steal people's identities. President Clinton has also convened an interagency working group to
educate the public about the dangers of online crime, and to develop policies to protect online
privacy. In sync with these efforts, the Department of Justice has stepped up its prosecution of
crimes involving online invasions of privacy.
CONCLUSION
The Clinton Administration has taken significant steps to harness new technologies for
law enforcement and to guard against the spread of new crime in cyberspace. Many challenges
still lie ahead. With the foundation established by the Administration's work and priorities in the
1990s, local, state and tribal governments and the federal government will enter the new
millennium with a strong program to develop and deploy crime fighting technologies across the
country and around the world. These tools will help make America safer in the 21st Century.
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Honoring and Strengthening Our Nation's Law Enforcement
The Rose Garden, The White House
October 9, 1998
Today, the President will honor this year's "Top Cops" -- an award given by the National
Association of Police Organizations to pay tribute to law enforcement officers from across the
country for service to their communities during the preceding year. This year, 34 exceptional la W
enforcement officers from ten jurisdictions will receive the distinguished award. At the event,
President Clinton also will announce grants enabling communities to hire more police and states
to improve their criminal history records.
Safer Streets: Adding Police and Halting Illegal Handgun Sales
Meeting the President's Pledge of 100,000 More Police. The Justice Department's
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) will award $27.4 million in
grants for 151 policing agencies across the country to hire 428 officers. Today's
announcement will bring the total number of officers funded under the President's
COPS Initiative to over 88,500 --keeping the COPS Initiative ahead of schedule and
under budget.
Improving System of Brady Background Checks. The President will announce more
than $41 million in Justice Department grants for states to improve their criminal
history records, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the Brady Law's National
Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The grants, provided through the
National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), are funded through the
President's 1994 Crime Bill. Total grants under this program now exceed $200 million.
The President will also reiterate his opposition to efforts in Congress to undermine the
effective and timely implementation of NICS which is scheduled to come on-line next
month.
New Tools to Support Law Enforcement and Safe Communities
Improving Criminal History Records and Access. The President will announce his
intent to sign bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators DeWine (R-OH) and Leahy
(D-VT), to provide $1.25 billion in federal assistance to states over five years to
upgrade communications technologies and criminal justice identification systems. The
bill also includes an Administration-proposed national compact on the electronic
exchange of criminal history records for non-criminal justice purposes, such as
employment checks on day care and elder care workers.
President Clinton: A Record of Support for Law Enforcement
Protecting law enforcement from deadly assault weapons. Because criminals should
never outgun law enforcement officers, the President's 1994 anti-crime bill banned 19
of the deadliest cop-killing assault weapons. In addition, this spring, the Treasury
Department generally banned the importation of more than 50 models of modified
assault weapons.
Preventing criminals from buying handguns. In 1993, the President signed the Brady
Bill. Since its passage, over 250,000 stalkers, fugitives, and felons have been
prevented from buying guns. That means fewer guns on our streets and safer streets
for our officers.
Giving the police the protection they deserve. In June 1998, the President signed the
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act to provide $75 million in grants to help state
and local governments defray the costs of purchasing bulletproof vests.
Honoring and Strengthening Our Nation's Law Enforcement
The Rose Garden, The White House
October 9, 1998
Today, the President will honor this year's "Top Cops" an award given by the National
Association of Police Organizations to pay tribute to law enforcement officers from across the
country for service to their communities during the preceding year. This year, 34 exceptional la W
enforcement officers from ten jurisdictions will receive the distinguished award. At the event,
President Clinton also will announce grants enabling communities to hire more police and states
to improve their criminal history records.
Safer Streets: Adding Police and Halting Illegal Handgun Sales
Meeting the President's Pledge of 100,000 More Police. The Justice Department's
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) will award $27.4 million in
grants for 151 policing agencies across the country to hire 428 officers. Today's
announcement will bring the total number of officers funded under the President's
COPS Initiative to over 88,500 --keeping the COPS Initiative ahead of schedule and
under budget.
Improving System of Brady Background Checks. The President will announce more
than $41 million in Justice Department grants for states to improve their criminal
history records, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the Brady Law's National
Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The grants, provided through the
National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), are funded through the
President's 1994 Crime Bill. Total grants under this program now exceed $200 million.
The President will also reiterate his opposition to efforts in Congress to undermine the
effective and timely implementation of NICS which is scheduled to come on-line next
month.
New Tools to Support Law Enforcement and Safe Communities
Improving Criminal History Records and Access. The President will announce his
intent to sign bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators DeWine (R-OH) and Leahy
(D-VT), to provide $1.25 billion in federal assistance to states over five years to
upgrade communications technologies and criminal justice identification systems. The
bill also includes an Administration-proposed national compact on the electronic
exchange of criminal history records for non-criminal justice purposes, such as
employment checks on day care and elder care workers.
President Clinton: A Record of Support for Law Enforcement
Protecting law enforcement from deadly assault weapons. Because criminals should
never outgun law enforcement officers, the President's 1994 anti-crime bill banned 19
of the deadliest cop-killing assault weapons. In addition, this spring, the Treasury
Department generally banned the importation of more than 50 models of modified
assault weapons.
Preventing criminals from buying handguns. In 1993, the President signed the Brady
Bill. Since its passage, over 250,000 stalkers, fugitives, and felons have been
prevented from buying guns. That means fewer guns on our streets and safer streets
for our officers.
Giving the police the protection they deserve. In June 1998, the President signed the
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act to provide $75 million in grants to help state
and local governments defray the costs of purchasing bulletproof vests.
OCT-12-1999 19:46
JUSTICE INTERGOVERNMENTAL
202 514 2504
P.02/05
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Office of the Deputy Director
Washington, D.C. 20530
October 12, 1999
Memorandum To:
Leanne Shimabukuro
From:
Ian Alberg
@
Subject:
NAPO Top Cop Deliverables
The following are items which could be announced by the President at the White House
event on the 21st and/or by the Vice President at the Top Cop dinner on the 22nd. They are items
of particular interest to NAPO.
1.
DEGAN II - The Department of Justice currently pays for the college education of
immediate survivors (spouse and children) of public safety officers who have died in the
line of duty since 1997. NAPO has asked the Administration to expand the start date to
1989, so that the number of children eligible for the benefit can be increased. The
President / Vice President could announce that whether a child goes to college should not
depend on the date his/her parent died. Cost is likely to be $10 million in FY 2001.
Outyear costs are higher. (Additional info follows)
2.
PUBLIC PENSIONS - NAPO strongly supports a change in the tax treatment of public,
especially law enforcement, pensions. Because law enforcement officers generally retire
from law enforcement and start a second career, it is important for them to have favorable
tax treatment when they rollover their pension benefits. On the other hand, law
enforcement officers may also need to use some of their pension to complete an a degree
or undertake other job retraining and may therefore require access to their pension for a
limited period of time. In either case, NAPO strongly supports increased portability of
pensions and a reduction of the tax consequence for this activity.
An acceptable provision was introduced in this Congress, but Congressional
Republicans placed it in the tax reform act, recently vetoed by the President. NAPO is
sophisticated enough to understand the President / Vice President's support for the
provision and the cynicism of placing the provision in a bill which carried a certain veto
threat.
3.
SURVIVOR BENEFITS - NAPO also strongly supports a tax exemption for the
proceeds of benefits paid to the survivors of public safety officers (law enforcement, fire,
rescue) who die or are permanently disabled in the line of duty. A provision which
effected this was contained in the recently vetoed tax reform act. For the same reasons
explained above as to public pensions, NAPO will understand the cynicism of
Congressional Republicans attaching the provision to a bill which carried a threatened
veto.
OCT-12-1999 19:47
JUSTICE INTERGOVERNMENTAL
202 514 2504
P.03/05
4.
REWARD AUTHORITY - The Attorney General has authority to offer a reward of up
to $1 million for information leading to the capture and conviction of a foreign terrorist.
That authority could be extended to information leading to the capture and conviction of
any person who murders a law enforcement officer.
5.
PROSECUTION OF COP KILLERS - NAPO and the Concerns of Police Survivors
(COPS) has repeatedly asked the Administration to support legislation to Federalize all
law enforcement murders. Unfortunately, this would not likely pass constitutional muster
(not to mention the Federalism concerns). Moreover, most state prosecutors are qualified
to handle the cases, but may sometimes lack resources. Accordingly, the Administration
could offer a grant program (and call on Congress to fund it) to local prosecutors to fund
the costs of prosecuting cop killers. The program would be discretionary, administered
by the Justice Department and cover only certain limited costs.
6.
NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM - NAPO seeks a National Law
Enforcement Museum. It is likely that Congress would authorize the project, but they
would probably not appropriate funds. We could commit to seeking FY 2001 funds. The
President / Vice President could appoint a commission to propose a museum and commit
to the Federal government donating land. The Administration could also commit to
seeking funds for 50% of the cost. The remainder could come from state and local
governments as well as private donations.
7.
COPS - Unless we have reached an agreement for COPS funding at a level acceptable to
the President by the time of the event, the President should probably place heavy
emphasis on the 21st Century Law Enforcement Initiative (COPS II) which provides
30,000-50,000 additional officers. It is important to emphasize COPS hiring grants
because NAPO views these additional officers as additional union members and hence is
extremely supportive of this specific provision. Although mention of other 21st Century
programs such as technology may be necessary to achieve balance, it is important to note
that NAPO views the technology programs with suspicion.
NOTE: It appears that the Technology Report will NOT be ready for this event as OPD
decided it needed to be re-written.
"Top Cops" Fact Sheet
http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/New/html/copsfact.htm
PRESIDENT CLINTON TO HONOR "TOP COPS" AND ANNOUNCE
INITIATIVES SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
October 9, 1997
Today in a Rose Garden ceremony, President Clinton will honor 18 "Top Cops" -- outstanding
law enforcement officials designated as such by the National Organization of Police
Organizations (NAPO) -- for their heroism and exemplary service. He will recognize the vital
role that law enforcement officers play in safeguarding our communities. At this event,
President Clinton will announce two initiatives strongly supported by law enforcement:
1. Child Safety Devices. Embracing the President's proposal, eight major gun
manufacturers announced that they would provide child safety devices with every
handgun sold; and
2. College Scholarships. Building on legislation he signed one year ago, for the children of
slain federal law enforcement officers, the President announced his support for a bill --
strongly supported by the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) -- to
make college scholarships available to the children of slain state and local public safety
officers.
The Need for Child Safety Devices. A recent study by the Justice Department estimates that
over one-third of all privately owned handguns --22 million--are kept loaded and unlocked in
our country. Other studies estimate that easy access to these weapons results in 1,500 children
(ages 14 and under) being treated in hospital emergency rooms every year for unintentional
firearms-related injuries. Child safety devices are an inexpensive and effective solution to this
problem.
President Clinton: Leading by Example. By including child safety devices in his Anti-Gang
and Youth Violence Strategy, the President initiated a national debate on this issue and
created a large market for child safety devices. He proposed legislation to require federal gun
dealers to provide these safety devices with every gun sold, and he directed all federal
agencies to provide them with all handguns issued to federal law enforcement officers. By
October 15th, all federal law enforcement officers will have been issued child safety devices.
Firearms Industry: Following the President's Lead. Eight major gun manufacturers -Glock,
Beretta, Taurus, H&R, Heckler & Koch, Smith and Wesson, Mossberg & Sons, and SigArms,
announced that they would provide child safety devices with all of their handguns.
Honoring Law Enforcement. Last year, President Clinton signed legislation to provide college
scholarships of up to $4,848 per year for the children of slain federal law enforcement officers.
Today, the President announced his support for a proposal to expand this benefit to include the
children of state and local public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty.
President Clinton and America's Police:
Building Stronger, Safer Communities TOGETHER
A STRATEGY THAT WORKS:
Lowest number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in over 35 years. In 1996,
117 federal, state and local law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty, a dramatic
30% decline since 1995. This is the fewest police officer fatalities since 1960.
Crime rates have dropped for five straight years. Before President Clinton took office, violent
crime was increasing in America. The President's dropped five years in a row. In fact, the
number of murders fell an historic 9% in 1996, while violent crime decreased 6%.
A Record of Accomplishment:
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"Top Cops" Fact Sheet
http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/New/html/copsfact.htm
Putting 100,000 new community police on our streets. President Clinton promised to put
100,000 new community police officers on the street to protect our communities, increasing
our nation,s police force by nearly 20 percent. Since passage of the President's 1994 anti-crime
bill, 64,000 of these officer S have been funded.
Protecting law enforcement from deadly assault weapons. Because criminals should never
outgun law enforcement officers, the President,s 1994 anti-crime bill banned 19 of the
deadliest cop-killing assault weapons. The President banned guns like the Uzi, which are the
weapons of choice for drug dealers and gangs.
Preventing criminals from buying handguns. In 1993, the President signed the Brady Bill.
Since its passage, 250,000 stalkers, fugitives and felons have safer streets for our officers and
families.
Giving the police the tools they need to fight crime. President Clinton has strengthened efforts
to clamp down on illicit gun markets, by implementing the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction
Initiative in selected cities across the country. Through this initiative, law enforcement will
trace all guns used in crime that are seized by Federal, State, and local law enforcement
officers, and work with that trace information to help identify illegal gun traffickers. By
analyzing patterns of gun trafficking that exist in an area, our police officers can more
effectively target illegal gun traffickers for prosecution, particularly those who put guns into
the hands of our nation's young people.
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