Recognizing the 10th Anniversary of the SafeShield Initiative
Submitted by: the Division of State Associations of Chiefs of Police
Sacop.020.A11

WHEREAS, in 2002, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Division of State Associations of Chiefs of Police (SACOP) created an initiative dedicated to protecting our nation's law enforcement officers; and

WHEREAS, dedicated to protecting our nation's law enforcement officers, SafeShield's organizing philosophy is that law enforcement leaders cannot accept the proposition that accidents or injuries are a reality of the law enforcement profession; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement leaders cannot accept the proposition that accidents or injuries are a reality of the law enforcement profession, and

WHEREAS, the only acceptable belief is zero officers killed or injured, and

WHEREAS, it is the belief of SafeShield that although Chiefs have limited control over dangerous situations an officer may face in the line of duty, they can control the outcomes through comprehensive planning, proper preparation and the use of protective equipment, and

WHEREAS, in 2006, the membership of the IACP adopted a SACOP resolution, "A Vision for Officer Safety," that embraced the philosophy of the SafeShield Initiative and the vital role that chiefs must play, and

WHEREAS, the resolution states that law enforcement leadership must set the tone to create an environment in which officer safety is the top priority of every department, and

WHEREAS, 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the SafeShield Initiative, and

WHEREAS, SafeShield serves as the umbrella officer safety initiative of the IACP working in concert with all of the officer safety related projects of the IACP, now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the IACP encourages all members to join in the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the SafeShield Initiative, and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP urges all law enforcement personnel and agencies to take the fundamental and critical steps of wearing body armor and using seat belts to protect them and to ensure that they return home safely at the end of the day.