Police Union endorses Kerry
IBPO Endorses John Kerry for President
Says 2000 Choice George Bush Has Turned His Back on Police Officers; Cites Kerry's Lifetime of Dedication to Law Enforcement
WASHINGTON, May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Brotherhood of Police
Officers (IBPO) proudly endorsed Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry
for President Friday, citing his commitment to law enforcement and public
safety throughout his life of public service.
"John Kerry has been a friend of law enforcement officers for nearly
thirty years, first as a prosecutor and now United States Senator, and the
IBPO looks forward to working with him as President," said IBPO President
David Holway. "After three and a half years of disappointing leadership under
George Bush, we need to change course in November and elect a President with a
real record of supporting police officers and a lifetime of standing with law
enforcement."
"As President, I will build a stronger America by standing by police
officers and giving them the resources they need to protect our communities,"
Kerry said. "I'm honored to receive IBPO's endorsement today, and I know that
together, we'll work every day to make America safer and more secure. I
believe that America should always honor and reward the courage and service of
police officers. And when I'm President, that's exactly what we're going to
do."
John Kerry has a record of standing by police officers. In the Senate,
Kerry led the fight to fully fund efforts to add 100,000 police to our streets
through his work on the 1994 crime bill the Community Oriented Policing
Services (COPS) program. He supported the current ban on assault weapons and
is a national leader supporting measures to crack down on armor-piercing, "cop
killer," bullets. As a prosecutor, Kerry built a strong record of being tough
on crime, winning convictions of high profile murder, rape and mafia cases.
IBPO endorsed candidate George Bush in the 2000 presidential race only to
see him turn his back on America's police officers as President. He has cut
the COPS program in every one of his budgets and threatened the overtime pay
of officers across the country. He has also made it harder for police to do
their jobs on the frontlines by not giving states and local communities the
resources they need to fight the war on terror.
"John Kerry will give law enforcement more than empty rhetoric and
meaningless photo-ops," Holway said. "A veteran who knows what it's like to
put his life on the line for his country, Kerry will lead where George Bush
has failed and provide the men and women who risk their lives to protect
America's families with the tools they need."
As President, Kerry will provide states and localities the resources they
need for crime fighting and homeland security, including $25 billion for
fiscal relief. To help police officers on the front lines in protecting
homeland security, Kerry will push for greater intelligence sharing between
state and local authorities and federal agencies. He supports the
reauthorization of the assault weapons ban and as president, will bring
prosecutors into high-crime neighborhoods in an effort to reduce crime in the
areas that need it the most.
The only major national police organization to endorse the winner of the
last three presidential elections, IBPO is one of the largest police unions in
the country. Recognized throughout the country for its effectiveness in
protecting the rights of police officers, the IBPO has been instrumental in
advocating for law enforcement and public safety at all levels of government.
SOURCE The International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO) |
