Dear Colonel Zuhlsdorf,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to respectfully request that the Command Staff at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) direct the appropriate JBAB personnel to issue new credentials to the JBAB Police Officers.
It has come to our attention that when the U.S. Air Force (USAF) assumed command of JBAB in 2020, the USAF confiscated the U.S. Navy-issued credentials that were issued to JBAB Police Officers. We understand that the officers of every other law enforcement agency on JBAB, including USAF Office of Special Investigations (OSI), have been issued the appropriate credentials, however, despite repeated requests, credentials have not been issued to JBAB Police Officers.
For months, JBAB Police Officers have been unable to gain access to booking facilities, courthouses, U.S. Attorney’s offices, D.C. Attorney’s Offices as well as many other government offices and facilities. Ultimately, without these credentials, these officers, all of whom are Federal law enforcement officers, are unable to perform their basic duties.
Furthermore, by denying these officers from acquiring the appropriate credentials, they are constrained from carrying their firearm off duty, which is permitted under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA). This ultimately jeopardizes the safety of these officers and their communities.
On behalf of the more than 356,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I request that the JBAB Command Staff take the necessary action to ensure that JBAB Police Officers—who are JBAB’s first line of defense—are issued the appropriate credentials needed to fulfill their duties as Federal law enforcement officers. If you have any questions or if I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President