WHY POLICE OFFICERS BACK W

WHY POLICE OFFICERS BACK W

By FRANK FERREYRA
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November 1, 2004 -- IN the face of one of the most
bitter presidential races this country has ever seen,
a first-ever event occurred in the nearly 90-year
history of the National Fraternal Order of Police, the
largest law-enforcement labor union in the United
States, when the entire organization unanimously
supported the endorsement of President George W. Bush.
That endorsement represents over 318,000 members and
their families. (I was privileged to have our National
Trustee Charles Caputo represent the New York State
FOP at this meeting and cast our vote. )
The obvious question is: Why the FOP has displayed
such unity in its unwavering support of the president?
Put simply, it is because under this president,
promises made are promises kept. However, the reasons
are many, easy to understand and have far-reaching
benefits to every citizen in this country.

First and foremost, the Bush administration has
repeatedly made good on its commitment to law
enforcement. Through key legislation and budget
appropriations, our nation's police officers are being
provided the necessary tools and support so vital to
performing in exemplary fashion day in and day out, in
every city, town and village in the United States.

Police officers are the very first line of defense in
any crisis situation. But post-9/11, police officers
have a new enemy to face with bravery and valor:
terrorism. So, in addition to often being first on the
scene of a health emergency, car accident or fire,
police officers now must contend with the ever-present
danger of a terrorist attack anytime, anywhere.

President Bush completely understands this scenario,
and has responded by providing federal funds for
important aspects of emergency management such as
Interoperable Communication and Emergency Operations
Centers.

Under his leadership, the administration has rolled up
its sleeves and worked hard to change the laws to
better protect America. In just four short years,
they've enacted some of the most beneficial changes to
American law enforcement in the past five decades.

One key piece of legislation, the "Law Enforcement
Officers Safety Act," allows off-duty and retired law
officers to remain armed. That puts more enforcement
professionals on the street to act in a time of
crisis. Under the previous administration, this
legislation sat stagnant in Congress. President Bush
identified it as an important law for homeland
security, and did everything in his power to make it a
reality.

President Bush also recognizes the role and importance
of law-enforcement families. He has worked with the
FOP on countless issues affecting those of us who have
lost a loved one in the line of duty and has helped
the FOP pass the most significant expansion of the
federal public-safety officer's survivors-benefit
program in a generation.

Police officers have the opportunity to be heroes any
day they go to work. Many times, that tag of "hero"
costs the ultimate price, as we saw with so many the
day America was attacked. Yet law-enforcement
professionals do not do their jobs for accolades or
recognition. They do it instinctively, without
consideration for their own safety.

President Bush recognizes that trait in the police
officers across the country. He has shown his
appreciation by continually supporting the issues that
affect the lives of each police officer their
families, and that is why we have responded in kind,
with one common voice, to support President Bush on
Election Day.



Frank Ferreyra is president of the New York State
Fraternal Order of Police, which has more than 20,000
members representing virtually every police department
in the state.