President Bill Clinton Receives Distinguished Service Award for 2006

Honored for historic crime bill, other law enforcement initiatives

Washington, DC — Last night the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) presented the 2006 Distinguished Service Award to former President Bill Clinton for his leadership and support on behalf of the law enforcement community. The Distinguished Service Award, the NLEOMF's highest honor, is given annually to an individual or organization that has made a lasting and exceptional contribution to the law enforcement profession.

President Clinton enacted a number of programs supporting the law enforcement community during his tenure. Among these initiatives are the signing of the public law to issue a commemorative silver dollar, which honored fallen officers and their families and raised $1.4 million to help maintain the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial; and the signing of the public law to lower the American Flag to half-staff on May 15, Peace Officers Memorial Day, in honor of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. President Clinton was also honored for his successful efforts to significantly increase the number of law enforcement officers serving across the country, to improve law enforcement safety and to substantially reduce violent crime. One of President Clinton's most meaningful contributions to date is his signature on the public law that established a National Law Enforcement Museum on federal land in the Nation's Capital.

"This is our way of showing our immense gratitude toward President Clinton for his contributions to the law enforcement community and the NLEOMF," said NLEOMF CEO Craig W. Floyd. "The programs he implemented during his tenure and the role he played in the creation of the National Law Enforcement Museum truly embody the spirit of this award. We look forward to a continuing partnership with President Clinton in the years ahead."

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made lasting contributions to the law enforcement community such as helping to generate increased public support for the law enforcement profession, helping to promote law enforcement safety, and/or helping to combat crime in America. The recipient of the award is selected by the top officials from the nation's 15 major law enforcement organizations who sit on the NLEOMF Board, including: Concerns of Police Survivors; Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association; Fraternal Order of Police; Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary; International Association of Chiefs of Police; International Brotherhood of Police Officers; International Union of Police Associations/AFL-CIO; National Association of Police Organizations; National Black Police Association; National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; National Sheriffs' Association; National Troopers Coalition; Police Executive Research Forum; Police Foundation; and the United Federation of Police.

Since its inception 10 years ago, the Distinguished Service Award has been given to the following prominent recipients:

• President George H.W. Bush
• Former U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, honorary chairman and co-founder of the NLEOMF
• DuPont, for its work to provide law enforcement officers with bullet resistant vests and to promote their use
• Former U.S. Rep. Mario , the police legend from New York City and founder of the NLEOMF
• U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, the author of a public law to establish a National Law Enforcement Museum
• John Walsh, host of the television show "America's Most Wanted"
• United States Attorney General Janet Reno
• United States Mint Police for their efforts to help raise $1.4 million for the Memorial's maintenance through the sale of a commemorative coin
• Police Unity Tour, which has raised more than $3.2 million for the NLEOMF and increased public awareness about officers killed in the line of duty ($2 million of the total donation has been designated towards the Police Unity Tour’s $5 million pledge to support A Matter of Honor: The Campaign to Support the National Law Enforcement Museum)
• Motorola for more than 65 years of meeting law enforcement's communications needs and for becoming the lead corporate donor of the National Law Enforcement Museum

Learn more about the NLEOMF Distinguished Service Award.

Contact: Kevin Morison
202-737-7134 - kevin@nleomf.org