NAPO sends letter to President Obama regarding
extradition of cop-killers from Cuba
On March 22, NAPO Executive Director Bill Johnson
sent a letter to President Barack Obama and Attorney
General Loretta Lynch regarding the urgent need to
include the extradition of violent criminals as part of the
U.S. reopening of diplomatic relations with Cuba.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department
of State must work together to bring back violent
criminals who fled to Cuba – such as cop-killer Joanne Chesimard – so
that these criminals can be brought to justice. Chesimard is on the FBI’s
most wanted terrorist list for her role in the killing of New Jersey State
Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973.
The fact that violent felons like Chesimard are living free in Cuba is an
affront to the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our communities as law enforcement officers, and the families
and friends of officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
NAPO strongly believes that the U.S. Government should do everything in its power to ensure the extradition of violent criminals and copkillers from Cuba.
DOJ announces resumption of Asset Forfeiture Program
In a victory for NAPO and state and local law enforcement across the
country, Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Deputy Attorney General
Sally Yates announced on March 28 that the DOJ is resuming the Asset
Forfeiture Program. The DOJ will begin processing payments to state
and local law enforcement through the equitable sharing program as
soon as possible.
There is a backlog of applications for payments dating back to Dec.
21, 2015, when the DOJ suspended the program, as agencies continued
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to submit payment applications despite the deferral of
payments. The DOJ will process the applications in the
order in which they were received.
The DOJ is sending a letter and fact sheet to its state
and local law enforcement partners about the resumption of this important program. NAPO fought hard to
restore the equitable sharing program to ensure the
continuation of the successful relationship between the federal government and state and local law enforcement that has allowed agencies to participate in joint-task forces to prevent and foil serious
criminal activity and terrorism, purchase equipment, provide
training, upgrade technology, engage their communities and better
protect their officers.
Blue Lives Matter Act introduced in the House
On March 16, Representative Ken Buck (R-Colorado) introduced
the Blue Lives Matter Act, which extends greater protections to police
officers by expanding the federal hate crime statute to include law
enforcement officers.
NAPO endorses this legislation, as it is critical to bolster protections
for law enforcement, as violence against officers – as a result of their
identity as police officers, alone – has increased sharply in the past
couple of years.
NAPO believes that establishing stricter penalties for those who
harm – or target for harm – law enforcement officers, will deter crime.
Covering law enforcement officers under the hate crime statute will
affect important changes in the attitudes of criminals toward officers,
and ensure protection for the community. d