November 9, 1999
SIXTH ANNUAL TOP COPS AWARDS®
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Nearly
700 people were on hand for a dinner ceremony to honor the winners of the
Sixth Annual TOP COPS Awards®, sponsored by the National Association of
Police Organizations (NAPO), Friday, October 22, 1999 at the
Hilton-Washington & Towers in Washington, D.C. The mood for the
prestigious awards ceremony had been set the day before when President
Clinton honored the 32 TOP COPS® (representing the top ten cases of 1999)
at the White House. The TOP COPS® were treated to a special meeting
with the President in the Oval Office prior to a ceremony that took place
in the Rose Garden. Friends and family members of the winners
watched their TOP COPS® proudly as they stood behind President Clinton
while he praised them and the hundreds of thousands of other officers who
protect us.
At the dinner ceremony on Friday, Vice
President Gore took time out of his busy campaign schedule to serve as
NAPO's keynote speaker. He thanked the TOP COPS®, the 45 Honorable
Mention winners and the 20 nominees in attendance for their heroism.
The Vice President then paid a special tribute to the families of all law
enforcement officers, "You who are family members, I want you to know that
the country is grateful to you for the sacrifices that you make, to make
the service of these men and women possible. We are intensely proud
of the work that's being honored here and we're proud of you as families
too."
Returning as the Masters of Ceremony for the
prestigious event were Richard Belzer of NBC's Law and Order: Special
Victims Unit and Lynne Russell of CNN's Headline News. Ms. Russell
is also a Fulton County deputy sheriff and certified jail officer.
Celebrity awards presenters included S. Epatha Merkerson of NBC's Law and
Order, Jason Wiles and Molly Price of NBC's Third Watch and Yaphet Kotto
of NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street. Other awards presenters
included Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA); Under Secretary of the Treasury
for Enforcement Jim Johnson; Director Tom Frazier, U.S. Dept. of Justice,
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; former Attorney General
Edwin Meese; Craig Floyd, Chairman of the National Law Enforcement
Officers Memorial; and Debbie Geary, President of the Concerns of Police
Survivors. Annamaria Lazzaretto, the widow of a detective killed in
the line of duty, made the courageous and heartfelt awards presentation to
the California officers who tried to save her husband.
The winner of this year's Citizen's Choice
Award, which is not announced until the end of the ceremony, was Sergeant
James McMullin of the Chicago Police Department, awarded for his actions
that potentially saved the lives of hundreds of elderly persons in danger
from a gas main break and the resulting fire. For a list of this
year's winners and their courageous stories, or to nominate an officer for
a 2000 TOP COPS Award®, visit our web site at www.napo.org. Mark
your calendars for the Seventh Annual TOP COPS Awards® ceremony! The
ceremony will be held at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. on August
5, 2000, in conjunction with our 22nd Annual Convention.
NAPO ELECTION RESULTS
On Saturday, October 23, a special
membership meeting was held to conduct the 1999 election of NAPO
officers.
President
Thomas J. Scotto 99,709
Detectives' Endowment Association of NYC
Bud Stone 60,232
Berkeley (CA) Police Officers Association
Executive Vice President
Thomas J. Nee 99,709
Boston Police Patrolmen's Association
Joel Myers 60,232
Illinois Police Association
Recording Secretary
Edward Guzdek 83,410
Police Conference of New York
Mike Derbyshire 76,043
Central Coast (CA) Peace Officers Research Assn of
CA
Treasurer
Jim Thompson 98,073
West Central Florida PBA
William Birdseye 61,868
Police Officers Association of Michigan
Sergeant -at-Arms
Ted Hunt 98,073
Los Angeles Police Protective League
E.F. Skip Murphy 61,868
Peace Officers Research Assn of CA
In addition, President Scotto re-appointed
Sandra J. Grace as NAPO's Executive Secretary. Congratulations go
out to our newly elected officers, and a heartfelt thank you to our former
Executive Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer and
Sergeant-at-Arms for their valuable service to the organization.
U.S. SUPREME COURT HEARS CASE CONSIDERS
ARGUMENT PRESENTED IN NAPO AMICUS BRIEF
On November 2, 1999, the U.S. Supreme
Court heard arguments in the case of Illinois v. Wardlow. NAPO and
two of our member organizations, the Policemen's Benevolent and Protective
Association of Illinois ("PB&PA of Illinois"), and the Illinois Police
Association ("IPA"), submitted an amici curiae brief in support of law
enforcement officers in Chicago and elsewhere, who stop, question, and
search those who turn and flee from an officer. The amici curiae
seek to reverse the judgment of the Supreme Court of Illinois, which had
ruled in favor of the Respondent Sam Wardlow's motion to suppress evidence
seized from him, namely a loaded handgun. The Chicago police
detained Wardlow and seized this handgun, after he inexplicably fled upon
seeing police cars in a high crime area in Chicago (during anti-drug
trafficking efforts). The case should be decided before this
summer. We will keep you informed of its status. For a copy of
the brief, contact the NAPO office (800) 322-6276.
ASSET FORFEITURE UPDATE
As reported back in June in the NAPO
Bulletin, the House of Representatives passed HR 1658, asset forfeiture
reform legislation that was introduced by Congressman Henry Hyde
(R-IL). NAPO lobbied against the passage of this legislation, which
would curtail law enforcement's ability to seize property for criminal
activity. NAPO, along with the Department of Justice and other
national law enforcement groups, supported a compromise version in the
Senate, S. 1701, introduced by Senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Charles
Schumer (D-NY), Strom Thurmond (R-SC) and Joe Biden (D-DE). On
November 9, 1999, the full Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to
debate HR 1658, the asset forfeiture legislation that passed the
House. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Chairman of the Judiciary
Committee and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), ranking minority member of the
Judiciary, may offer a substitute amendment for H.R. 1658. However,
we understand that the substitute language will not be as favorable as S.
1701, in protecting the interest of law enforcement. We will
continue to keep you updated on asset forfeiture reform.
RIGHT TO CARRY
Juvenile Justice legislation that passed
both the House and Senate (H.R. 1501 and S. 254 respectively) is currently
being negotiated in conference committee by Senate and House
members. As a result of NAPO's and other police groups' efforts, we
have learned that H.R. 218, introduced by Randy Cunningham (R-CA), will be
included in the final version of the Juvenile Justice legislation.
H.R. 218 would allow both active and retired law enforcement officers to
carry their weapons across state lines. However, the Juvenile
Justice legislation itself, still contains contentious gun control
measures that need to be worked out between Congress and the
administration. The majority whip of the Senate, Don Nickles (R-OK)
remarked, "We only have a few days left. It will be very difficult
to get anything through." NAPO will continue to keep the membership
abreast of any new developments.
PENSION UPDATE
As reported in the September issue of
the Washington Report, the President carried out his promise to veto H.R.
2488, the "Taxpayer Refund and Relief Act," that provided $792 billion in
tax cuts. Unfortunately, H.R. 1102, the "Comprehensive Retirement
Security and Pension Reform Act" was part of the legislation vetoed.
If enacted, the legislation would have enhanced the portability and
preservation of retirement benefits and allowed for stronger funding of
public pension plans. Also included in this veto was legislation
that would have prospectively exempted survivors of officers killed in the
line of duty from paying taxes on death benefits, regardless of when an
officer was killed. Currently, the exemption exists for the
survivors of officers who died after December 31, 1996.
There is also an ongoing debate to bring up
minimum wage legislation in the House of Representatives.
Congressman Rick Lazio (R-NY) has introduced H.R. 3081, which would raise
the minimum wage and includes language from HR 1102, the public pension
legislation supported by NAPO. At press time, it is not confirmed if
other House bills or the Senate versions of the proposed minimum wage
legislation contain the public pension language as
well.
Annual Death Benefit Increase
Announced
The onetime federal death benefit to the
survivors of public safety officers killed or who have suffered a
traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty will be $146,946 for fiscal
year 2000. This benefit went into effect October 1, 1999.
TOO SMART TO BE A COP?
A federal judge in Connecticut ruled
that the New London, CT, police department did not violate Robert Jordan's
equal protection rights by turning down his 1996 application to be a
police officer because he scored too high on the intelligence test.
The court explained that Jordan "may have been disqualified unwisely but
he was not denied equal protection," when the results of his intelligence
exam were taken into consideration. The city made the decision to
consider applicants who scored between 20 and 27 on the Wonderlic
Personnel Test and Scholastic Exam. Jordan scored a 33.
POLICE WEEK 2000 SCHEDULE
ANNOUNCED
May 9-13, 2000
NAPO Legal Rights & Legislative
Seminar
Hyatt Regency on Capitol
Hill
May 13, 2000, 8:00 p.m.
12th Annual Candlelight Vigil
National Law Enforcement Officers
Memorial
May 14, 2000
9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m.
Concerns of Police Survivors Seminars
Hilton Alexandria Mark
Center
12:00 p.m.
Law Ride 2000: Motorcycle Procession from RFK Stadium
to Memorial
6:00 p.m.
National Conference of Law Enforcement Emerald
Societies Pipe Band March
Starts at New Jersey Avenue & F Street, NW ends
at Memorial
May 15, 2000
Time TBA - 19th Annual National Peace Officers
Memorial Day Services Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police
Time TBA - Wreath Laying Ceremony National
Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
May 16, 2000
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Concerns of Police Survivors Seminars
Hilton Alexandria Mark Center
NAPO DATES TO REMEMBER
February 13-17, 2000
NAPO's 12th Annual Public Safety Pension
& Benefits Seminar
Harrah's
Casino & Hotel
Las Vegas,
NV
April, 15, 2000
Deadline To Receive TOP COPS Awards® Nominations for
Seventh Annual TOP COPS® Awards
May 7-13, 2000
National Correctional Officers Week
May 9-13, 2000
NAPO Legal Rights & Legislative Seminar
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C.
May 13, 2000
12th Annual Candlelight Vigil
May 14-20, 2000
National Police Week
August 5, 2000
Seventh Annual
TOP COPS Awards®
Warner Theatre
Washington, D.C.
August 3-8, 2000
22nd Annual
NAPO Convention
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C.
|
Archive of Past
Issues:
| November 9,
1999 |
| September 17,
1999 |
| July 26,
1999 |
| May 17,
1999 |
| March 23 ,
1999 |
| May 1,
1998 |
| October 23,
1998 |
| August 13,
1998 |
| July 6,
1998 |
| May 15,
1998 |
| April 14,
1998 |
| March 6,
1998 |
| December 11,
1997 |
| November 1,
1997 |
| August 28,
1997 |
| July 9,
1997 |
| May
1997 |
| March 14,
1997 | |
