Police Chiefs Group to Host Televised Vice Presidential Forum on Crime, Homeland Security
by Jim Kouri, CPP
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has invited Senator Joseph Biden and Governor Sarah Palin to participate in a nationally televised Vice Presidential Forum on Crime and Homeland Security. The forum, scheduled for Sunday, October 5 (with a backup date of October 12), will be held at the University of Richmond, in Richmond, Virginia.
"In the years since the September, 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, more than 99,000 Americans have been murdered and more than eight million have been the victims of violent crime," said IACP President Ronald Ruecker, Director of Public Safety in Sherwood, Oregon.
"These numbers are unacceptable, and Americans need to know what the next administration will do to combat crime and terrorism to make our communities safer. We hope that hosting this forum will shed light on crime and homeland security issues, which impact the lives of all Americans whether they live in large cities, small towns, suburbs, or rural communities. We hope the candidates and their campaigns recognize the salience of these issues to the American people, and accept this invitation to discuss what they will do to better protect Americans on our own soil."
The forum would allow each candidate to appear on stage separately for 45 minutes, in back-to-back appearances. Sen. Biden and Gov. Palin will have an opportunity to speak to pressing concerns about crime and homeland security and to hear from and interact with the audience, which will include chiefs of police from Virginia and across the nation.
In his invitation letter to the candidates, Ruecker said, "The IACP is a nonpartisan organization that does not endorse candidates or contribute to campaigns, making it uniquely situated to sponsor this forum. Our nation's chiefs of police have no agenda, political or otherwise, beyond our sworn duty to protect the public. It is our profound belief that the American public deserves to know about the challenges we face in combating crime and terrorism in our own communities and the solutions that you and your running mate offer."
CNN will broadcast this forum live throughout the United States and around the world.
Founded in 1893, the International Association of Chiefs of Police is the world's oldest and largest association of law enforcement executives with more than 22,000 members in nearly 100 countries. For more information, visit www.theiacp.org
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for a number of organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and crime magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer, Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional.
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