Dear Representative ,

I am writing to petition your support for House Resolution 1073, the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act, introduced by Congressman Bob Filner and John McHugh.

Federal Police Officers work for such agencies as the Department of Defense Police and the Defense Protective Service, Veterans Affairs, U.S. Customs, U.S. Postal Police, U.S. Mint Police, and Federal Protective Service. The officers that work for these agencies go beyond the call of duty and put their lives on the line every day.

Unfortunately, Federal Police Officers in the U.S. Government job series 0083 are not recognized as Law Enforcement Officers until we pay the supreme price and our names are engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall. Such is the case of Federal Protective Officer Ronald Sheffield, who was recently gunned down at his post in Michigan. Officer Sheffield was buried on September 26, 2001 with full police honors. Officer Sheffield gave his life to protect the employees and visitors at the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Office Building in Detroit.

When Officer Sheffield was alive, his government refused to recognize him as a Law Enforcement Officer. In May 2002, in Washington, D.C, the seat of our government, Officer Sheffield was finally recognized as a Law Enforcement Officer when his name was engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

Sadly, this was also the case for Federal Police Officer Lisa Bailey of the U.S. Department of Defense Police, Norfolk, VA, who, in December of 1999 was gunned down attempting to stop an armed robbery. Officer Bailey was the last police officer to die in 1999.

Presently, I along with many other dedicated professional Federal Police Officers, are working 12 ½ hours a day. We are part of the thin blue line standing between our form of government and cherished way of life and those who seek to destroy it. My brother and sister Federal Police Officers and I believe we are, and have been, providing for the safety and security of our Nation, its institutions, and our way of life as professional Law Enforcement Officers. We will continue to do so every day.

Thank you for taking the time from your schedule to read this letter. Please show your support for Federal Police Officers and contact the Clerk of the House with your decision to support HR. 1073.

Sincerely,