At the IACP Conference – October 5, 2009

It was another busy day at the IACP for the Memorial Fund. Chairman and CEO Craig Floyd and other NLEOMF staff started the day at the IACP/Motorola Webber Seavey Award for Quality in Law Enforcement breakfast. Twenty-five of the most innovative programs in law enforcement worldwide were recognized. Congratulations to all the awardees, especially the three winners: Richmond (VA) Police Department for GRIP – Gang Reduction and Intervention Program; Minneapolis (MN) Police Department for Juvenile Focused Policing: A Collaboration to Reduce Crime; and Ontario (Canada) Provincial Police for Provincial Traffic Safety Program.

The First General Assembly featured speeches by leading federal law enforcement officials. Attorney General Eric Holder opened his remarks by remembering those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. “Together we have walked the Pathways of Remembrance and silently lighted candles at the [National] Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in honor of your 133 brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the line of duty last year.” The Attorney General was followed by FBI Director Robert Mueller and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who, like Mr. Holder, spoke of the importance of federal-state-local cooperation in protecting both communities and fellow officers.

At the NLEOMF booth (#2607) in the exhibit hall, staff greeted hundreds more conference attendees. A number of chiefs inquired about how they might be able to use some of their federal Asset Forfeiture funds to support the National Law Enforcement Museum. Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice ruled that the Museum was an allowable use of Asset Forfeiture funds. The NLEOMF recently sent information to chiefs encouraging them to consider devoting some of the funds to the Museum project and to visit the NLEOMF booth to learn more.

Later in the day, NLEOMF staff visited with many of the generous corporate partners who have supported the Memorial Fund and the Museum over the past year. As strong supporters of the law enforcement community in general, the corporations are also exhibiting at the IACP Conference.