Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
Administration Proposes Significant Cuts to Benefits of Slain Officers
As I sat drinking my first cup of coffee this morning, scanning the morning news online as I do each weekday, I saw the headline suggesting our President is proposing to cut survivor benefits to the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. My very first thought was:
Police Week starts Sunday. He's really not announcing this now, right?
For the past several weeks we at Officer.com have been preparing for Police Week. Within the community we serve - law enforcement professionals and all who support them - it is one of the biggest events each year. The Candlelight Vigil being held on Wednesday, May 13th, is the single most emotionally moving event a police officer or deputy can attend in memory and honor of fallen brothers and sisters.
Surely...
surely our President isn't choosing
now to announce that he wants to cut back on benefits provided to the surviving family members of those law enforcement professionals who have made the ultimate sacrifice protecting and serving the communities across our country? Apparently I am wrong; and apparently he is doing exactly that.
President Obama (not that I expect you to actually ever read this although I am hopeful you'll get a five second brief about it from some super-junior-level aid):
Over 900,000 law enforcement professionals support, protect and serve domestic peace every day in this great nation of ours.
Every day, every shift, those officers don a uniform, put on armor, pull on an equipment belt, pin on a badge or a star, and go to work.
Every day, every shift, the families of those officers hug and kiss them goodbye and remain hopeful that they'll see that loved one again in eight to twelve hours - however long that officer's shift is.
The unfortunate reality is that over 130 families in 2008
didn't get to see their loved one alive again. That loved one; that dedicated officer; that
HERO gave everything in the course of "just doing his/her job".
For decades our country has recognized the justice in and need for supporting those surviving family members: the husbands, wives and children of the fallen officers. How can you, in good conscience, now try to cut back on the support provided to those surviving family members?
President Obama, you came into office under a cloud of doubt about how you viewed officers. That cloud of doubt may or may not have been justified but one thing is certain: if you continue on this course of action then the message you are sending to all of the law enforcement community is clear - and it's not one of care, concern, support or appreciation.
President Obama, THINK about what you are doing and all the implications it carries. THIS is not something to be done - and surely not to be announced just a few days before Police Week starts.
To everyone reading this I ask: SHARE THIS WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW WHO MIGHT CARE. Ask them to come read it and add their comments. THIS is a topic that needs to be addressed in a strong way.
Stay safe.
Frank Borelli
Editor-In-Chief
Officer.com
