NJ Cops | Page 24

NAPO urges response to CNN comments CNN has extended its ongoing streak of anti-police rhetoric and misinformation by calling the violent attacker at the Dallas Police Department “courageous and brave.” In mid-June, NAPO sent a letter to the head of CNN and to major CNN advertisers protesting these outrageous comments. NAPO hopes officers and their family and friends from member organizations can use the letter as a template to write and send their own. CNN will not change their philosophy about America’s police, but if their advertisers feel the pinch, perhaps that can change their behavior. A sample letter can be found on www.napo.org. departments to receive permission from individuals before personal records can be released. The DPPA states a court may award automatic damages in the amount of $2,500 each time a record was accessed, as well as attorney fees and litigation costs. NAPO proposes modifying the amendment to explain penalties will only be applied if persons access information with intent to secure an economic benefit, removing the automatic penalty and adding a clause stating there must be repeated disregard of this law for sanctions to take effect. If the language is not modified, law enforcement officers will be subject to large fines and the loss of their licenses. NAPO attends congressional event on Sentencing Reform NAPO attended an event hosted by the Pew Charitable Trusts on sentencing and corrections reforms at the state level. Congressmen Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin) and Bobby Scott (D-Virgina) cohosted the event, which included a keynote address from Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R-South Dakota). Chief Justice Matthew Durrant of the Utah Supreme Court, State Senator Gerald Malloy of South Carolina and General Counsel Jim Steward to the Governor of South Dakota discussed sentencing reform projects in their states. NAPO Supports the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act NAPO representative met with Congressman Joe Courtney’s (DConnecticut) staff to garner support for the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act. This legislation would repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which imposes an excise tax of 40 percent on high-cost health insurance plans scheduled to go into effect in 2018. This tax applies to plans with premiums at or above $10,200 for an individual or $27,500 for a family, including worker and employer contributions to flexible spending or healthcare savings accounts. Higher thresholds are set for workers in high-risk professions, such as public safety officers ($11,850 for an individual and $30,950 for a family), but to qualify the majority of members in the healthcare plan must work in high-risk professions. d NAPO briefing on Capitol Hill On June 19, NAPO met with a senior staffer for Congressman Ted Deutch (D-Florida) to discuss modification