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Peace officer
appreciation
By U.S. Senator John Cornyn
As former Texas Attorney General, it is always my pleasure to spend time with members of the law enforcement community and those who support this community.
Each time we gather together, we�re reminded that the law enforcement community is a family, united by the same hopes and fears, and the same steadfast commitment to duty. When a young man or woman becomes a peace officer, they are making more than a career choice � they are making a commitment. Being a peace officer is more than a job. It�s a way of life. And it�s also a wonderful way to make a difference in society.
But the truth is, being a peace officer isn�t just about being tough enough or brave enough. It�s about serving people, helping people. And every day our police officers do just that. Often officers are forced to confront situations that invoke emotions ranging from concern to fear. And yet, time and time again, our peace officers meet these situations with unfailing courage ... and uncommon bravery. Peace officers know how quickly a routine procedure can turn into a nightmare of unpredictability and danger, and so they rely on each other for safety and backup.
In an effort to support law enforcement, I introduced in the Senate the Court and Law Enforcement Protection Act. Police officers place their lives on the line every time they put on the uniform and report for duty. Likewise, the dedicated men and women who work in America�s courthouses � from the judges to the court reporters � preside each day over difficult, contentious, and, at times, very emotional legal disputes. All of these public servants are placed in harms way by the nature of their jobs and perform essential duties that keep our democracy running smoothly.
Unfortunately, as you well know, violence directed at public servants is on the rise. From escalated violence against police officers to courthouse attacks, these despicable actions threaten the administration of justice. And I believe that Congress has the power � and now must exercise it � to ensure that certain and swift punishment awaits those who engage in these unconscionable acts of violence.
My bill takes steps toward providing additional protections to our peace officers, and those who work in our court system.
First, it increases the punishments, including providing mandatory minimums, against those who retaliate against judges, police officers, or their family members, on account of the performance of their duties. A high-ranking law enforcement official recently told me that detention equals deterrence. He meant that those who know that they will face significant incarceration think twice about committing criminal acts. I agree with him and we should carry out that idea in this legislation.
Importantly, this bill curbs frivolous lawsuits against police officers and streamlines the appellate process for those murderers who receive the death penalty for murdering a judge or a police officer.
It is good policy to place reasonable limits on lawsuits involving police officers by limiting claims to actual damages � unless the defendant purposefully inflicted serious bodily injury on the plaintiff, in which case the plaintiff may seek an additional $250,000 in damages. And returning the attorney�s fees provisions in these cases to the traditional attorney�s fees responsibility by requiring each party to bear this burden is likewise, good policy.
In addition, I also introduced the Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2006. Criminal street gangs are the primary distributors of drugs throughout the United States. They use drug trafficking as their primary means of financial gain, and they are increasingly associating with international criminal syndicates, including Mexican, Central American, and South American drug cartels � as well as Asian and Russian organized crime syndicates.
These international criminal groups and their street gang allies are also involved in human trafficking and human smuggling into the U.S. Crackdowns on violent gangs in Central and South America are resulting in an increase in illegal immigration by gang members, who reunite in the U.S. and reestablish their gang here.
And gangs once thought of as �local� are increasingly migrating across the U.S., seeking out new territory and drug-trafficking routes � importing crime, violence and drugs, and destabilizing neighborhoods and communities. They torment communities of every size.
We also know that gang members also use the prison environment to recruit other members and perpetuate their criminal enterprise, and adult gang members often recruit juveniles to commit the most heinous crimes.
To address these serious problems, my bill would:
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Provide smart new tools for federal, state, and local law enforcement to crack down on criminal street gangs (particularly national and multinational gangs);
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Create tough mandatory-minimum sentences for most gang-related crimes, including recruitment of minors and recruitment from prison;
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Model anti-gang provisions on RICO; establishes criminal penalties for controlling, participating in, or receiving income from a gang;
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Toughen penalties for intimidating, harassing, and threatening victims, witnesses, and informants � including a new federal death penalty for the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder of a witness, victim, or informant in a State criminal proceeding;
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Assist local prosecutors by funding the protection of victims, witnesses, and informants;
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Make it possible for prosecutors to try juveniles alongside adults in joined cases (e.g., criminal conspiracies), while properly safeguarding those who should be adjudicated in a juvenile proceeding; and finally, would
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Form cooperative, multi-agency task forces comprised of local, state, and federal law enforcement (modeled on the successful High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program).
I will continue looking for such ways to support our law-enforcement community, and my office is always available to take ideas and suggestions.
Finally, it�s important that we reserve special honor for the men and women who are brave enough to risk their safety on our behalf to keep our communities safe. And of course, always recognize and thank those brave families willing to stand firm with them.
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