On a conference call with reporters the president of National Association of Police officers, Tom Nee, announced the associations endorsement of Obama-Biden. Nee said that he was please to represent "The 287,000 police officers who pledge their support to Barack Obama." Nee praised Vice Presidential Nominee Sen. Joe Biden as an advocate for law enforcement and a great personal friend. Nee pointed out that local law enforcement is increasingly taking on more federal responsibilities in immigration, homeland security and tracking of weapons and drugs.
Biden was on the call and focused on the Obama campaign's pledge to bring back the crime bill and supplement funding for local law enforcement. Biden recalled former crime bills that enhanced federal funding for local law enforcement and said that President Bush and Republican nominee Sen. John McCain consider local law enforcement a local budget responsibility and have supported the cancellation of many federal programs for law enforcement. Biden said that the last time the crime bill was funded violent crime dropped by 30 percent nationally. " You know what you need, you know what the problems are and when we give you the equipment, when we give you tools, when we give you the jurisdiction you get the job done."
Biden said that the Obama/Biden ticket will commit to reestablish the crime bill, put another 50,000 cops on the street, and support local law enforcement with technology funding. Biden said that if anyone is going to target a basketball stadium or shopping mall with a terrorist attack it is most likely that local police will be those who discover and deal with the threat. "They need the tools," he said.
Nee emphasized the need for funding quoting Biden, "It's time to mow the lawn again. It's time to get back to dealing with homeland security, because it all begins at home." Listen
Police support Obama/Biden in hopes of more federal funding
Biden was on the call and focused on the Obama campaign's pledge to bring back the crime bill and supplement funding for local law enforcement. Biden recalled former crime bills that enhanced federal funding for local law enforcement and said that President Bush and Republican nominee Sen. John McCain consider local law enforcement a local budget responsibility and have supported the cancellation of many federal programs for law enforcement. Biden said that the last time the crime bill was funded violent crime dropped by 30 percent nationally. " You know what you need, you know what the problems are and when we give you the equipment, when we give you tools, when we give you the jurisdiction you get the job done."
Biden said that the Obama/Biden ticket will commit to reestablish the crime bill, put another 50,000 cops on the street, and support local law enforcement with technology funding. Biden said that if anyone is going to target a basketball stadium or shopping mall with a terrorist attack it is most likely that local police will be those who discover and deal with the threat. "They need the tools," he said.
Nee emphasized the need for funding quoting Biden, "It's time to mow the lawn again. It's time to get back to dealing with homeland security, because it all begins at home."
Listen