understand how best to respond in such a situation, but students should also be drilled in what to do when faced with an active shooter.
Johnson touched on the need for government agencies at all levels to properly use the tools that we have now, including uploading the necessary information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System( NICS) and actually paying attention to and acting upon the information shared through NICS. He also spoke on closing background check loopholes, such as those at gun shows, to ensure that those individuals who should not have guns under the current laws are not able to obtain them.
In the end, it is law enforcement working with school administrators and staff on a consistent basis, both in practice and information sharing, that will help keep our schools safe.
NAPO appreciates the attorney general’ s taking the time to discuss and consider state and local law enforcement’ s suggestions and recommendations as to how the federal government can best support its partners in protecting our nation’ s schools and students. We look forward to working with him to put these recommendations into action.
NAPO joins DOJ Law Enforcement Working Group
NAPO was asked to participate in a Department of Justice( DOJ) Law Enforcement Working Group put together by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Alan Hanson, head of the Office of Justice Programs( OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance( BJA) Director Jon Adler, and Associate Deputy Attorney General Steve Cook, at the request of the attorney general. Along with NAPO, the working group consists of representatives of other national law enforcement organizations and DOJ staff, and it will meet quarterly to discuss relevant issues facing officers in the streets and how the DOJ can best assist its state and local
law enforcement partners.
The first working group meeting took place on March 7, and it focused on the department’ s current efforts regarding civil asset forfeiture accountability, as well as where the department is on issuing training for state and local law enforcement agencies on how to properly submit asset forfeitures for adoption. Also discussed were the department’ s efforts to protect forensic science as we know it; new tools to help federal, state and local law enforcement fight opioids in our communities; and officer safety and wellness.
NAPO on the Hill: National Police Week priorities
NAPO, together with other law enforcement organizations, met with staff of Speaker Paul Ryan( R-WI), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell( R-KY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer( D-NY), Senator Pat Toomey( R-PA), and staff of the House and Senate Law Enforcement Caucuses to discuss our priority legislation for this Congress; in particular, pro-law enforcement legislation that we want to see moved leading up to or during National Police Week. Given the time frame, the legislation we want to move during Police Week are those bills that are bipartisan and have the support of the Judiciary Committee so that they can move quickly to the House and Senate floors.
We discussed the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act, the Protecting Lives Using Surplus( PLUS) Equipment Act, possible legislation to reform the delivery of the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits( PSOB) Program to disabled law enforcement officers, legislation to provide federal health benefits to officers severely disabled in the line of duty, and legislation to enhance officer safety by increasing penalties for the murder, attempted murder or assault of federal, state and local law enforcement officers. d www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ MARCH 2018 27