By Ed Somers and Rhonda Spears
November 3, 2003

The Conference of Mayors and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) joined together during an October 24 press conference to oppose proposed cuts to key law enforcement partnership programs.

The press conference was held in Philadelphia during the IACP annual meeting, and featured Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner, Gary Mayor Scott L. King who chairs the Conference's Mayors and Police Chiefs Task Force, Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran, IACP President Chief Joseph Samuels, Jr. of Richmond (CA) and IACP Vice President Chief Joseph Polisar of Garden Grove (CA).

The House of Representatives is proposing to cut the COPS program by more than 50 percent and eliminate all hiring programs. The Senate is proposing to cut LLEBG by more than 60 percent.

Garner said, "I have come here today with a simple message — and it's one that I know the nation's police chiefs share. The fight against crime continues in our nation's cities, and Washington must support programs like COPS and LLEBG that continue to contribute to crime reductions as well as terrorism prevention in cities across America."

"Mayors and police chiefs know that there is no equivalent for more officers on the streets engaging with the community to both provide local intelligence and continue the ongoing fight against crime," Garner added.

King said, "The Administration's $87 billion spending plan to rebuild Iraq includes $950 million for public safety development in that country and that is exactly the amount we are fighting to keep in COPS and block grant money. We don-t want to take anything away from our troops, but we should not sacrifice public safety in the United States to pay for public safety in Iraq."

"As economic opportunity goes down, crime increases," he added.

In related news, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released its Unified Crime Report on October 27 showing that in 2002, murder rates rose by 1.0 percent, forcible rapes rose by 4.7 percent, burglaries rose by 1.7 percent, and motor vehicle thefts rose by 1.4 percent.

"We are delighted to join with the US Conference of Mayors in an endeavor to achieve goals vital to all of us — appropriate funding and support for programs vital to law enforcement," said IACP President Samuels, Jr., who added "The federal government needs to not just shift money from one pot to another."

Cochran said, "We are working to make sure that funding is provided to prevent attacks — not just to respond. This simply cannot be done without fully supporting our local police in the ongoing fight against crime." Cochran also argued that there should be no acceptable level of crime in America.

Garner Addresses Chiefs

Prior to the press conference, Garner addressed the IACP annual meeting, along with Attorney General John Ashcroft, FBI Director Robert Mueller, and Assistant Attorney General Deborah Daniels.

During his remarks, Garner said, "Mayors and police chiefs have worked successfully to reduce crime rates, fight illegal drugs, and improve the overall conditions of their communities. Their anti-crime efforts are paying off with violent crime at a 20-year low nationwide. But too many families are still being ravaged by illegal drugs, gun related crimes and property and violent crimes. At the same time, cities face the new challenge of ensuring homeland security in the domestic war against terrorism."