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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2000		 CONTACT: Dean Peterson
(202) 225-2871

NATIONAL POLICE GROUP HONORS TWO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

SENATOR JOSEPH BIDEN, JR. (D-DE) AND REPRESENTATIVE JIM RAMSTAD (R-MN) WINNERS OF NAPO'S 2000 SENATOR OF THE YEAR AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) announced during its 2000 Legal Rights and Legislative Seminar in Washington, D.C., the recipients of its annual Congressional Awards. This year's honorees are Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) and Representative Jim Ramstad (R-MN). Both Members of Congress were chosen for their dedication and commitment to legislative issues affecting rank and file law enforcement officers.

Additionally, both are being recognized for introducing legislation concerning one of NAPO's top legislative priorities; on March 9, 2000, Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN) introduced H.R. 3896, the 'State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2000,' and on March 21, 2000, Senator Biden introduced companion legislation in the Senate, S. 2256. If passed into law, this legislation would implement a set of standards and procedures to guide both state and local law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers during internal investigations, administrative hearings, and evaluations of citizen complaints.

Senator Biden also introduced S. 1760, the 'PROTECTION Act of 1999,' on October 21, 1999. This legislation would authorize the appropriations of $1.15 billion each year for the next five years to continue the COPS program, which to date has funded and hired over $100,000 community police officers.

"The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) thanks Senator Biden and Congressman Ramstad for their steadfast commitment to law enforcement officers throughout the country," said Robert T. Scully, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations. "NAPO is proud to present Senator Biden with the Senator of the Year Award and Congressman Ramstad with the Representative of the Year Award for 2000," continued Scully.

The presentations will be made at a reception tonight taking place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in room SC-5 of the U.S. Capitol. This event is held in conjunction with NAPO's 2000 Legal Rights and Legislative Seminar, taking place May 10-12, 2000, at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Distinguished police, labor and constitutional attorneys, union negotiators and government officials participated. Both Senator Biden and Congressman Ramstad both participated in the seminar, speaking on various pieces of legislation affecting law enforcement officers.

Topics discussed during the seminar included:

The First Amendment: Does it really protect officers' and their union leaders exercise of free speech and political activities?

Duty of Fair Representation: What can go wrong and how to protect your organization

Justice Department Lawsuits against Law Enforcement Agencies—Efforts to Exclude Labor Organizations and Potential Violations of Collective Bargaining Agreements: What steps can organizations take to protect their members?

Social Security Solvency Act (Mandatory Social Security)

Public Safety Employer/Employee Cooperation Act (Collective Bargaining)

Community Protection Act (Right to Carry)

Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability and Due Process Act (Bill of Rights)

Comprehensive Retirement Security and Pension Reform Act (Public Pensions)

Protection Act (COPS Program)

NAPO members also visited their members of Congress while in Washington to discuss legislative issues concerning law enforcement officers.

The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of police unions and associations from across the United States that serves to advance the interests of America's law enforcement officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. Founded in 1978, NAPO now represents more than 4,000 police unions and associations, 220,000 sworn law enforcement officers, 11,000 retired officers and more than 100,000 citizens who share a common dedication to fair and effective crime control and law enforcement.

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