Dear Representative D’Esposito,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for H. Res. 285, a resolution calling on Congress to respect the rights of law enforcement officers and establish a Bill of Rights for them.
Law enforcement officers have one of the toughest and most dangerous jobs in the nation. They are charged with keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe from crime. Because of this enormous responsibility, law enforcement officers are held to a much higher standard of personal and professional conduct than most other professions – as they should be.
As a result, while law enforcement officers are often subjected to false accusations of misconduct, they are not always afforded due process rights during these investigations. With thousands of police departments across the country, there are varying levels of protections for law enforcement officers during investigations despite established judicial precedent. There is a clear need for a Federal statutory standard of procedural protections for law enforcement officers accused of misconduct to ensure an officer’s rights are safeguarded.
Your resolution acknowledges the need for a uniform set of Federal standards to be enacted to ensure due process rights for law enforcement officers. The resolution lays out several rights law enforcement officers should be afforded, including the right to counsel and a union representative, the right to a hearing, and the right to be informed of the nature of any investigation. The men and women of law enforcement deserve the protections recognized in this resolution as they work tirelessly to serve and protect our communities.
On behalf of the more than 364,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I am proud to offer our support for this resolution. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President