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Protecting and Honoring Our Nation's Law Enforcement
At today's 19th Annual Peace Officers Memorial, President Clinton will
announce new efforts to protect law enforcement officers and honor their
extraordinary service. Today, the President will announce: 1) that the
Justice Department has funded over 92,000 armor vests to date for State
and local police officers across the country through the Bulletproof
Vest Partnership; 2) the availability of $24 million in FY 2000 funding
to double the current number of vests funded; 3) support for authorizing
legislation to extend the vest grant program through FY 2004 and double
current funding to $150 million; and 4) his directive to the Attorney
General to help create a Presidential award of valor to honor the
extraordinary service and valor of public safety officers.
IMPROVING OFFICER SAFETY WITH BULLETPROOF VESTS
Over 92,000 Vests Funded Last Year. In June 1998, President Clinton
signed into law the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act to provide
grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to purchase
bulletproof vests for their officers. Under the Bullet Vest Program
(BVP), the Justice Department pays up to 50 percent of the cost for
vests purchased by law enforcement agencies. The BVP has been an
unqualified success, and the President will announce that in its first
year, the vest program helped state and local law enforcement purchase
92,500 vests.
Another $24 Million Available In FY 2000 To Bring Total To 180,000
Vests Funded. The President will also announce that $24 million in FY
2000 funding is available from the Justice Department to fund another
90,000 or more vests. Police departments may apply through May 26, 2000
for these funds. Over 2,400 applications have already been received.
Police Departments will be able to access grant funding to pay for new
vests next month.
SUPPORTING THE EXTENSION AND DOUBLING OF THE VEST PROGRAM
Endorsement Of Legislation To Extend And Increase Bulletproof Vest
Grant Program. The President will announce his support for new
legislation, sponsored by Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Campbell (R-CO) and
Representative Visclosky (D-IN), to reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest
Program for another three years (FY 2002-2004) and double the authorized
funding from $75 million to $150 million. The BVP is set to expire in
FY 2001. In addition, the legislation would guarantee that the program
will pay for the full 50 percent of the costs of bulletproof vests for
jurisdictions of under 100,000 persons.
CREATING NEW AWARD OF VALOR TO HONOR EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE
Presidential Directive To Create New Award Of Valor For Public Safety
Officers. In addition to helping keep law enforcement safe, the
President believes we must honor the exceptional valor and sacrifice of
our public safety officers. The President strongly supports legislation
to create a medal of valor award to honor the officers who act above and
beyond the call of duty. Unfortunately, the legislation has remained
stalled for months. The President believes that public safety officers
should not have to wait any longer to receive the recognition they
deserve. Today, the President will issue a directive to the Attorney
General to develop a plan to create a Presidential award through
Executive action to recognize public safety officers who have exhibited
extraordinary valor. Under the directive, the Attorney General will
designate a group of experts representing all aspects of the public
safety sector to provide input into the award.