2010 National Police Week (Courtesy of The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund)

President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation in 1962 designating May 9 to 15 as National Police Week and May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day. Since then, the nation has formally honored those who lost their lives to protect us all.

This year, there’s something more that we can do for these courageous women and men: Encourage members of Congress to give public safety officers a federally protected right to bargain collectively.

AFSCME – which represents nearly 125,000 public safety officers nationwide (including nearly 30,000 police officers) – is urging Congress to pass the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009 (H.R. 413/S. 3194). The legislation establishes minimum state collective bargaining standards for corrections officers, police, emergency medical technicians and firefighters.

Also high on AFSCME’s legislative agenda for public safety officers is increasing federal funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program, which provides grants to hire police officers, improve law enforcement communications technology, and other initiatives.

Additional funding for COPS will help local law enforcement agencies across the country whose budgets are being cut or threatened with shortfalls, compromising public safety.

Too many law enforcement officers have lost their lives on the job. Let’s support the living while we honor the dead.

Learn more about AFSCME-represented law enforcement officers here. Also, check out the latest AFSCME research on law enforcement here.

When it comes to public service, law enforcement officers serve on the frontlines – sacrificing their very lives to keep communities safe for the rest of us. And when it comes to law enforcement, AFSCME stands on the frontlines of the fight for better pay and benefits, safer work environments and the highest standards of professionalism.

On the heels of National Police Week – held annually May 11 through 15 – the union renewed its call for public safety officer legislation. This would provide health care benefits for the families of those killed in the line of duty, secure collective bargaining rights for public safety officers (including those working in corrections) and enable more officers to rely on the promise of a secure retirement by receiving Social Security benefits.

AFSCME Connecticut Council 15 Exec. Dir. Jim Howell, who heads the union’s law enforcement initiative, says it best: “Public safety officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our nation and keep it strong. We deserve basic workplace protections.”