Page 7 - FINAL WEST FOP BlueNote 2017 July August

Message from the President

By Randy Hagler

In May, thousands of America’s In return, we all have an obligation to Additionally, there are several other
law enforcement officers made their ensure our law enforcement officials pieces of pro-law enforcement
annual visit to our nation’s capital to have the tools, resources, and support legislation that have recently been in-
commemorate National Police to do their jobs effectively and to stay troduced, including the Back The
Week. The highlight of the week was as safe as possible. In areas where Blue Act and the Probation Officer
a somber, yet touching, ceremony that support is lacking, it is the re- Protection Act.
held to honor the 394 names that sponsibility of elected officials to The Back The Blue Act is a direct
were inscribed on the National Law step up and either revisit existing response to the violent targeting of
Enforcement Officers Memorial, of laws or create new ones to help pro- law enforcement officers. It would
which were the 143 officers wholost tect the very men and women who do a number of things, including es-
tablishing a mandatory minimum
their lives in the line of duty in 2016. protect us.
Two of these names were North Car- While Republicans and Demo- sentence of 10 years for anycriminal
olina’s finest: Tim Brackeen, a crats may not be able to agree on who kills or attempts to kill any cur-
Shelby Police Department K-9 Of- much these days, one notable area of rent or former federal judge or fed-
ficer, and John Thomas Isenhour, a bipartisan cooperation this year has eral law enforcement officials, and
been the advancement of legislation empowering the Department of Jus-
Forsyth County Deputy Sherriff. tice to provide grant funding to pro-

Officer Brackeen and Deputy that supports law enforcement.
Isenhour both personified the honor, President Donald Trump recently mote trust and improve relationships
integrity, and bravery of North Caro- signed two bills into law that were between law enforcement and the
lina law enforcement. They were the approved overwhelmingly by Con- communities they serve.
kind of public servants who could in- gress: a bill that encourages stateand The Probation Officer Protection Act
stantly erase the doubts of anyone local law enforcement to hire veter- would improve the ability for proba-
who would ever question the charac- ans, and another that supports the tion officers to keep themselves safe
ter or motivations of the men and families of fallen police officers by by allowing them to arrest hostile
addressing the backlog to obtain sur- third parties who obstruct or prevent
women who wear the blue.
We should never forget that po- vivor benefits. National Fraternal them performing their official duties.
The legislation moving through
lice officers, just like every other Order of Police President, Chuck
American, kiss their loved ones Canterbury, was proud to stand be- Congress demonstrates a commit-
good-bye before going to work each hind President Trump as he signed ment to law enforcement, but there is
much more work to be done.
day. But the big difference is, unlike these two very important pieces of
Strengthening police-community re-
the vast majority of us, there is no legislation into law.
guarantee officers will return safely There is also a bill quickly mov- lations, protecting the safety of po-
lice officers, and ensuring police
to their families when their shifts are ing its way through Congress that
supports the mental health and well- have quality training must be among
over.
Our police officers make these sacri- being of officers, directing the De- our top priorities for the remainder of
fices because they have accepted the partment of Justice to consult with 2017 and beyond.
awesome responsibility of serving the Department of Defense and De- The North Carolina Fraternal Or-
and protecting the public. They are partment of Veterans Affairs on the der of Police looks forward to contin-
serving a calling that requires them best mental health practices that law uing to work with leaders in both
to always put the safety of others enforcement agencies could imple- North Carolina and Washington to
ahead of their own well-being, and ment. The bill recently passed the push for policies that will better pro-
far too often they pay the ultimate Senate unanimously and should be- tect our communities and recognize
the great sacrifices made by law en-
price. come law soon.
forcement.

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