Dear Representative Williams,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for H.R. 4828, the “Blue Shield Privacy Act.”
Amidst continuously evolving technological advancements, those with ill will toward law enforcement continue to find ways to harass and endanger our law enforcement personnel, as we have seen over the last week with 10 officers shot, three of whom were killed in ambushes. These malign individuals deliberately place our law enforcement officers in danger by “doxxing”—making their restricted personal information like home or workplace addresses, license plate numbers, and even GPS coordinates to their homes available to anyone with access to the Internet. This puts the officers and their families in jeopardy.
This legislation would modernize 18 U.S.C. §119, which has not been updated since 2008, to better protect law enforcement and their families from these attacks and ensure that they can properly execute their duty to protect and serve. By fixing critical gaps in current law, our law enforcement can be free from the fear of targeted violence and intimidation from those with no regard for public safety and the sacrifice of our officers.
On behalf of the more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, thank you for your leadership on this legislation. If I can provide any additional information or support for this effort, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President