25th Annual Candlelight Vigil Honors 321 Fallen Peace Officers At The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The names of 321 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty—including 120 who died in 2012—were formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monday evening, during the 25^th annual Candlelight Vigil.

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An estimated 20,000 people attended the ceremony in person, including surviving family members, friends, law enforcement colleagues, and others. Thousands more participated via a live webcast of the ceremony provided by the Memorial Fund and Officer.com.

U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. delivered poignant keynote remarks and led the lighting of candles and reading of the fallen officers' names. "Although no words, and no ceremony, can erase the pain we feel at each tragic and untimely loss, my hope is that the families, friends, and colleagues of these fallen heroes can find peace in the certain knowledge that they died doing what they loved.  They helped to make this world a far better, and safer, place," he said. "And, despite the fact that these brave officers were taken from us far too suddenly – and far too soon – their legacies, and contributions, will always endure."

Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, and Madeline Neumann, National President of the Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), also participated in the annual tribute to fallen officers, a special part of the National Police Week observance in the nation's capital.

The evening's program also included musical tributes and a special recognition of representatives of some of the Boston-area agencies that demonstrated an exceptionally high level of work as they captured the Boston Bombing suspect while protecting their communities. This included Director Robert Mueller of the FBI; Superintendent Timothy Alben of the Massachusetts State Police; Superintendent Willie Gross of the Boston Police Department; and Chief Ed Deveau of the Watertown Police Department.

In addition to the 120 officers who died in 2012, the names of 201 officers—whose deaths had been lost to history until this year—were added to the Memorial. The national monument now contains the names of 19,981 fallen law enforcement officers—from all 50 states; the District of Columbia; U.S. territories; federal, corrections, railroad, and military police agencies—who have died in the performance of duty throughout U.S. history, dating back to the first known officer death in 1791.

"Tonight, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in law enforcement service.  And we also pay tribute to the surviving family members who were left behind," said Craig W. Floyd, Chairman and CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the non-profit group that maintains the Memorial and serves as a principal organizer of National Police Week each May. "Behind every name on these walls are stories and memories that burn brightly … tonight and every night—stories that inspire us and memories that cannot be extinguished.  We will always remember these extraordinary American heroes," he said.

For more information, including the names of officers added this year to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, visit www.LawMemorial.org/2013RollCall. Photos from the Candlelight Vigil are available at www.LawMemorial.org/Photos.

About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers and to promoting officer safety. The Memorial Fund maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 19,981 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now working to create the National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of American law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational programming.  For more information, visit www.LawMemorial.org.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's National Police Week events and activities are supported, in part, by a generous contribution from Target®.

CONTACT: 
Steve Groeninger
(202) 737-7135
steve@nleomf.org

SOURCE National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

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National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Honors Three Awardees at Annual Chairman's Dinner during National Police Week

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) is pleased to announce the recipients of its Distinguished Service Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Excellence in Media Award for 2013. The awards were presented during the annual Chairman's Dinner on May 12, held at the Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Center Pavilion in Washington, DC.

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The Chairman's Dinner is a special event during National Police Week wherein the Memorial Fund takes the time to acknowledge and celebrate individuals and organizations that have assisted in its mission to generate increased public support for the law enforcement profession.

The Distinguished Service Award is the Memorial Fund's top award. It has been presented annually since 1996 to "an individual or organization that has made an exceptional and lasting contribution to the law enforcement profession." This year's recipients are the National Park Service and the United States Park Police. Under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Interior, these agencies have partnered with the Memorial Fund to maintain the Memorial and the land on which it sits. Thanks to the National Park Service, the Memorial remains a safe place for visitors and stays as pristine as it was at its dedication 22 years ago.

The Memorial Fund's Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a deserving individual or organization that has taken a long-term leadership role in helping the NLEOMF in its work to honor the service and sacrifice of the law enforcement profession. This year's recipient is Dr. Marcella Fierro. By offering her medical expertise, Dr. Fierro has been invaluable in helping the Memorial Fund review hundreds of cases of fallen officers. She has provided the Memorial Fund medical counsel for nearly two decades and has assisted the Board of Director's Names Committee in navigating complex medical issues brought before them.

The Memorial Fund is pleased to introduce a new award this year, the Excellence in Media Award. This award is given to deserving individuals or organizations in the journalism, news, media and/or entertainment industries that have increased the visibility and understanding of the law enforcement community through their work. This year's awardee is Bill Erfurth and Modern City Entertainment, the creators of Heroes Behind the Badge, a film that honors the stories of law enforcement officers who were caught in the line of fire and survived, and of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"Our Board of Directors selected the National Park Service and U.S. Park Police, Dr. Marcella Fierro, and Bill Erfurth and Modern City Entertainment as this year's award recipients, not for any one thing they have done for law enforcement, but for all of the things they do, day in and day out, to support our officers and the communities they serve," said Craig W. Floyd, Memorial Fund Chairman & CEO. "Whether they are protecting and maintaining the grounds of the Memorial, assisting the Board of Directors with complex medical-related cases, or creating moving documentaries to highlight the sacrifices of law enforcement officers all over the country, the 2013 award recipients have been instrumental in helping the Memorial Fund to ensure that our officers are appropriately commemorated," Mr. Floyd added.

About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers and to promoting officer safety. The Memorial Fund maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 19,981 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now working to create the National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of American law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational programming. For more information, visit www.LawMemorial.org.

NEWS from the
NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MEMORIAL FUND
www.LawMemorial.org

CONTACT:
Steve Groeninger
(202) 737-7135
steve@nleomf.org

SOURCE National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

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Gang of Eight Bill Rewards Lawbreakers and Undermines Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A thorough analysis of the Gang of Eight bill's enforcement and compliance provisions by the Center for Immigration Studies finds serious flaws which will have public safety, national security, and enforcement implications. The extent of the problem is often hidden by S.744's deceptive language; it contains misleading subtitles which mask the rewards and protection given to lawbreakers. Because the bill excuses nearly all forms of immigration and identity fraud for amnesty applicants, the proposed legislation compromises the integrity of our immigration system.

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A detailed analysis, including an extensive table citing the relevant sections of the bill, is at: http://cis.org/vaughan/senate-bill-rewards-protects-lawbreakers-undermines-law-enforcement.

"The problems in the Schumer-Rubio bill are so extensive that it is difficult to imagine that an abbreviated mark up or amendment process would be sufficient to reduce its impact on public safety and national security," said Jessica Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies at the Center. "The passage of narrowly focused bills allowing for more input from law enforcement agencies would be more prudent and help ensure that we don't create the conditions for another terrorist attack or allow more foreign gangs and criminal organizations to gain a larger foothold in our communities."

Among the extensive list of flaws:

• Public safety: The bill allows the legalization of aliens who have been convicted of up to three misdemeanors on separate occasions, not counting "minor" traffic offenses. This gives amnesty to aliens with multiple offenses for drunk driving, vehicular homicide, domestic violence, certain sex offenses, theft, identity theft, and other misdemeanors. And, the bill waives criminal offenses for amnesty applicants younger than 18, no matter the seriousness of the offense, and even if the offender was tried as an adult, which provides a loophole for teen-aged gang members to be legalized.
• National security : The bill fails to mandate the creation of entry and exit tracking at land ports, and puts off a biometric entry-exit system at and sea ports for 10 years. It will allow arriving aliens to be granted political asylum on the spot, without background checks or in-depth examinations of the claims. It permits the entry of anyone in a loosely defined "persecuted group," regardless of security concerns. It allows the DHS Secretary to waive background checks before the issuance of work permits and benefits. It withdraws authorization for DHS to designate lists of countries with security concerns whose citizens require enhanced screening.
• Fraud: The bill forgives fraud committed by legalization applicants, including re-entry after deportation, use of false documents, skipping immigration hearings, and failure to depart when ordered. The bill provides no criminal penalties for application fraud, except for those applying as farm workers. It protects applicant information from law enforcement agencies.

View the Senate bill, and CIS analysis, testimony, and commentary on the bill, at: http://www.cis.org/Border-Security-Economic-Opportunity-Immigration-Modernization-Act.

The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit research organization. Since its founding in 1985, the Center has pursued a single mission – providing immigration policymakers, the academic community, news media, and concerned citizens with reliable information about the social, economic, environmental, security, and fiscal consequences of legal and illegal immigration into the United States.

Contact: Marguerite Telford
mrt@cis.org, 202-466-8185

SOURCE Center for Immigration Studies

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The Council on Alcohol and Drugs and Georgia Law Enforcement Launch Statewide "Operation Drug Drop Off" Campaign

ATLANTA, April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "One person dies every 19 minutes from prescription drug abuse in the United States." Many experts in the field of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) drug abuse prevention believe the number of deaths from these drugs will decrease as a result of communities having a safe and convenient way to dispose of leftover Rx and OTC drugs.

In response to the growing demand and need for a safe and convenient way to dispose of leftover Rx and OTC drugs, The Council on Alcohol and Drugs (The Council) has donated a drug drop box in virtually every county in the state that requested one (128 counties to date). Georgia now has more law enforcement-maintained drug drop boxes than any other state in the country. The name of the campaign is "Operation Drug Drop Off." The Council has also launched an associated statewide Drug Drop Box Media Campaign to publicize the presence of these boxes.

The goals of this program are to keep Rx and OTC drugs from getting into the hands of children and grandchildren, to keep them off the street, and to prevent overdoses and accidental poisonings. At the same time the Campaign also allows citizens to dispose of their out of date and unwanted Rx and OTC drugs safely and securely, avoiding environmental contamination via improper disposal methods.

Items that can be placed in these secure drug drop boxes include expired and unused Rx drugs (non-narcotics and narcotics) and OTC drugs, medication samples, medicated ointment/lotion, drops, inhalers, unopened epi-pens, herbals, and veterinary medications. Items that should not be placed in the boxes include needles or sharps, biohazard materials, and illegal drugs.

Georgia citizens can locate their closest drug drop box location by visiting this website: www.StopRxAbuseinGA.org. For additional information or questions concerning Operation Drug Drop Off, please contact John Bringuel, MA, ICPS, at (404) 223-2484 or email Mr. Bringuel at jbringuel@livedrugfree.org.

For more information on preventing alcohol and drug abuse please visit, www.livedrugfree.org.

SOURCE The Council on Alcohol and Drugs

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