On Wednesday, during National Police Week, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) honored Senator Coons for his work on behalf of police officers across the country. That afternoon, the Senator recognized National Police Week in a speech on the Senate floor.
As the co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, Chris has continuously fought to ensure we uphold our obligations to the officers who serve our communities. In partnership with Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, Chris has been a leader in pushing to reauthorize the federal Bulletproof Vest Partnership. The Partnership, which brings together state, local, and federal authorities, equips officers with bulletproof vests that, since 1987, have saved the lives of more than 3,000 officers. On May 7, Chris spoke on the floor about the program’s importance and called on Republicans stop blocking the law’s passage. And on Wednesday, Chris participated in a hearing on the program where Delaware Capitol Police Sergeant Michael Manley and Corporal Steve Rinehart, whose lives were saved by protective vests purchased by the Partnership, were in attendance.
Then later in the day, Senator Coons joined with Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) to introduce the bipartisan Fairness for Fallen Officers Act of 2014, which would close an unintended loophole in the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program and ensure families of fallen officers receive the benefits they deserve. Currently, families of officers who die of climate-related injuries, such as over-exertion, could potentially endure years of administrative and appeals processes in order to access death and education benefits. The Fairness for Fallen Officers Act of 2014, would address this shortcoming by adding fatal climate-related injuries to the list of injuries eligible for benefits under the PSOB program.
During the award ceremony, FLEOA’s National President, Jon Adler, presented Chris with a commemorative plaque. They were also joined by FLEOA Executive Vice President, Nate Catura, and FLEOA Representative, Chris Granberg.