Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, proudly attended today's ceremony at the U.S. Department of Justice which saw three FOP members sworn in as Commissioners who will serve on the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice. The Commission was established in October by an Executive Order.

"This is something the FOP has been working towards for a very long time," Yoes said. "We're very grateful to the President and Attorney General Barr for their support in creating this Commission and we strongly support its important work."

Philip E. Keith, Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and a former President of the FOP Lodge in Knoxville, Tennessee, will chair the 18-member panel. Three FOP members will serve as Commissioners: Frederick Frazier, the Vice President of the FOP's Dallas Lodge; John Samaniego, a past President of the Alabama State Lodge; and James Smallwood, President of the Andrew Jackson Lodge in Nashville, TN. The Commission will research "important current issues facing law enforcement and the criminal justice system" in an effort to improve policing and the administration of justice.

"It's been more than 50 years since law enforcement and criminal justice experts undertook a serious and comprehensive look at policing and our justice system," Yoes said. "So much has changed since the Johnson Commission of 1965, and it is well passed time to undertake this self-examination again."

William P. Barr, Attorney General of the United States, delivered remarks at the ceremony and publicly thanked National President Yoes and FOP Executive Director Jim Pasco for their help and the important role the FOP played in developing the Commission.

"Together, we will examine, discuss, and debate how justice is administered in the United States and uncover opportunities for progress, improvement, and innovation," Barr told the audience, many of whom were FOP members in uniform.

Following the conclusion of the swearing in, the Commissioners heard presentations on Officer Wellness and Social Problems Impacting Public Safety.

The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States with more than 350,000 members.