Prior to this year's ceremonies for National Police Week, the
International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO (I.U.P.A.) committed
the organization to become a Founding Partner for the proposed National
Law Enforcement Museum.
Pledging $100,000 to the effort, I.U.P.A. is the only AFL-CIO
chartered union that exclusively represents law enforcement personnel.
I.U.P.A., representing more than 100,000 officers, has been involved in
the original memorial program since its creation by an act of Congress
almost 20 years ago.
Sam A. Cabral, International President of I.U.P.A., said, "The museum
is a logical step forward in providing the American public with a better
idea of and greater appreciation for the commitment and sacrifices made
by law enforcement officers and their families to protecting the
American public. We are proud to have been a part of that effort since
the beginning of the memorial from its dedication in 1991 to our support
for the future museum."
Commenting on the museum, scheduled to open in 2009, Cabral added,
"This addition to the Memorial will is important to both law enforcement
and the public by providing an educational, inspirational, and accurate
view of the vital role law enforcement officers play in the lives of all
Americans."
In addition to I.U.P.A.'s pledge of support, their local affiliates
in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (L.A.P.P.L.),
and the Las Vegas Police Protective Association Metro (L.V.P.P.A. Metro)
are also founding partners.
I.U.P.A., the L.A.P.P.L., and the L.V.P.P.A. Metro, along with the
other 16 law enforcement organizations that are founding partners, have
also been joined by corporations and other organizations in supporting
the museum.
During National Police week and for the 17th year of of the
memorial's existence, I.U.P.A. participated in the moving candlelight
vigil and reading of the names of fallen officers. As candles flickered
in a chill breeze among the 20,000 family members, friends, and public
supporters of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, 415
names were called out state by state. The 153 names of those killed in
the line of duty this past year along with an additional 262 names of
officers killed in past years are now engraved on the wall. Five of
those killed last year were I.U.P.A. members.
The wall now honors more than 17,000 officers who died protecting the
American public since the first recorded death in 1792. This year, those
honored were from 37 states and U.S. territories. The memorial, visited
by some 150,000 people a year, sees the addition of more than 150 new
names of fallen officers from the single prior year alone.
