Dear Representatives Rutherford and Moskowitz,
I am writing on behalf of the membership of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for H.R. 9503, the “Officer Leslie Coffelt U.S. Secret Service Police Act.”
The United States Secret Service Uniformed Division (USSSUD) has a long and storied history in our country and has been dedicated to security operations in Washington, D.C. since its establishment in 1922. Starting as the White House Police, the division was fully integrated into the U.S Secret Service (USSS) in 1930, and its current name was adopted in 1977. Employing over 1,300 officers, the division has grown and is responsible for the security of multiple buildings, including the White House Complex, the Vice President’s Residence, the Treasury Building, and foreign diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C.
As the agency has grown, so have its responsibilities. We agree that a name change is appropriate to properly reflect their current role. This bill would change the name of the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division to the United States Secret Service Police. This name change would provide greater transparency to the public about the role of the agency and properly reflect the mission and the members of the USSSUD as police officers first and foremost. The FOP is proud to include these officers as part of our union.
On behalf of the more than 382,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you both for your leadership on this issue. If you need any further information about our support for this legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President