UFPO NEWS UPDATES:
June 14, 2017
Statement on Shooting at Congressional Baseball Practice from Memorial Fund President and CEO Craig W. Floyd
WASHINGTON, DC—Earlier this morning, a lone shooter launched an ambush attack at a baseball practice in Alexandria, VA, involving Republican members of Congress who were preparing for an annual Congressional baseball game. Eyewitnesses reported that the gunman was heavily armed with a rifle, handgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. As many as 100 shots may have been fired and five people were injured, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, a congressional staffer and two U.S. Capitol Police officers. Our thoughts and prayers are with the survivors of this vicious incident and their families.
While few details are available, one fact is certain—law enforcement professionals saved many lives today. If not for the heroic and immediate response of U.S. Capitol police officers who were part of a protective detail on the scene, along with Alexandria (VA) police officers who responded within three minutes of the attack, many other individuals would have been either seriously injured or killed. This tragic incident is stark evidence of the vital guardian role of law enforcement professionals in our society.
It is incidents like today’s horrendous attack that spotlight the true value of the law enforcement professionals serving and protecting our nation. Most of their efforts to keep our community’s safe go unnoticed, until evil strikes. While the rest of us run from danger, law enforcement professionals confront it head on, sometimes at the cost of their own lives.
The names of 21,183 fallen law enforcement heroes grace the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. Last year, 143 law enforcement officers lost their lives in the performance of duty and already this year 62 officer fatalities have occurred nationwide, including three who were shot and killed in the last two days. On average, there are 57,000 criminal assaults against officers each year, and more than 100,000 officers are injured in the line of duty. Yet, despite these enormous risks, some 900,000 law enforcement officers go out each and every day and put their lives on the line for our safety and protection. We owe all of them the thanks that often goes unspoken from a grateful and supportive nation.
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About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to telling the story of American law enforcement and making it safer for those who serve. The Memorial Fund maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 21,183 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund has begun construction of the National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of American law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational programming. For more information, visit the law memorial website, call, or email at the following.
www.LawMemorial.org
Steve Groeninger
SGroeninger@NLEOMF.org1-202-737-7135
UFPO NEWS UPDATES:
U.F.P.O. President Emeritus Honored
On May 12th, the Board of the United Federation of Police Officers was invited to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund’s “Legacy of Honor Gala.” That evening event was the first of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund’s hosted Police Week events. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week honors the men and woman who protect and serve our nation.
This night was to acknowledge and celebrate individuals, organizations, and corporations that have assisted the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund in telling the story of American Law Enforcement and providing greater safety for those who serve. The courage, compassion and patriotism demonstrated daily by some 900,000 law enforcement professionals across the country is truly worthy of honor and celebration.
The National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund honored and awarded United Federation of Police Officers President Emeritus Ralph Purdy the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award. Ralph began his illustrious law enforcement career in 1956 as a security guard with the New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs. He was the International President of the United Federation of Police Officers for 36 years and the U.F.P.O. is one of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund founding members. Mr. Purdy as President of the U.F.P.O. donated the first $5,000 to Congressman Mario Biaggi, the founder of the Memorial Fund and original sponsor of the bill which introduced legislation to build the national monument in Washington DC. The Memorial recognizes the 21,183 law enforcement officers who gave the supreme sacrifice in the performance of their duties.
UFPO CORRECTIONS UPDATES:
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - The two inmates who were on the run for three days after authorities say they killed two corrections officers, have been captured.
The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee confirmed Ricky Dubose and Donnie Rowe were caught Thursday evening in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
The escapees were wanted for the prison bus murders of two corrections officers: Sgt. Chris Monica and Sgt. Curtis Billue.
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