Dear Representative Keating,
I am writing on behalf of the membership of the Fraternal Order of Police to ask you once more to cosponsor H.R. 1195, the “Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act,” again this Congress.
The bill was reintroduced, on a bipartisan basis, as H.R. 1195 by Representative Peter T. King (R-NY) and William “Bill” James Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ). It is identical to H.R. 964, which you cosponsored in the previous Congress. This legislation would expand the definition of “law enforcement officer” for salary and retirement benefits to include all Federal law enforcement officers, thereby enhancing public safety, promoting national security and reversing the recruitment and retention problem that plagues law enforcement.
Due to their high level of training and the dangerous nature of the profession, Congress rightfully determined that Federal law enforcement officers should receive enhanced salary and retirement benefits compared to other Federal employees. However, Federal law enforcement officers classified as GS-0083 police officers were not initially covered. Over time, Congress has partially corrected this injustice by granting GS-0083 officers in some agencies, including the U.S. Park Police and the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division, law enforcement officer (LEO) status for salary and retirement benefits. However, thousands of dedicated Federal law enforcement officers do not receive these benefits today due to this definition discrepancy.
These dedicated men and women put their lives on the line as law enforcement officers for different agencies including the Department of Defense (DoD) and Armed Services, Veterans Affairs (VA) Police, Federal Protective Service (FPS), U.S. Mint, Government Publishing Office (GPO) Police, and the Bureau of Engraving, Printing (BEP) in addition to many others who protect and secure our Government buildings, their employees and visitors. They serve as our Federal government’s first responders and are asked to face the same hazards as their State and local counterparts. When one of them falls in the line of duty, their names are added to the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial here in Washington, D.C.
Through regulatory authority, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has ruled that the definition of a “law enforcement officer” for salary and pay benefits does not include “an employee whose primary duties involve maintaining law and order, protecting life and property, guarding against or inspecting violations of law, or investigating persons who are suspect or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States.” These officers may achieve LEO status by appealing to Merits Systems Protection Board (MSPB) or the OPM, but since 2000, the OPM and the MSPB, with the backing of a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, have made it extremely difficult for these officers to gain LEO status through judicial review.
Since the OPM has not amended its outdated LEO definition and the judicial review process has failed, the best remedy to this injustice is legislation amending U.S. Code to grant all GS-0083 officers LEO status. The enactment ofH.R. 1195, the “Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act,” would provide these brave Federal officers with 6(c) benefits and the ability to retire after twenty (20) years of service at the age of fifty (50), or twenty-five (25) years of service at any age.
These GS-0083 officers are as highly trained as their colleagues with LEO status are. Many attend the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and their job is no less dangerous. These officers have been seriously injured and even killed in the line of duty. Criminals who assault civilian law enforcement officers do not discriminate based on their salary and retirement status and neither should this nation which is greatly served by their dedication and sacrifice.
On behalf of the more than 349,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I hope you will once again co-sponsor this top legislative priority and support our Federal law enforcement officers who protect us and would lay their lives on the line if need be.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President