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