2018 saw National Police Support Fund make great strides toward fulfilling its goals and mission to support those who support our nation’s law enforcement officers.
Over the past twelve months, we have laid the foundation that will support our work for years to come. We used our resources to execute a winning General Election strategy that saw sweeping victories in November and helped to prove that America still stands with police across the country. In addition to our work in the Fall 2018 election, we conducted opinion polls and created a voter guide that reached and informed tens-of-thousands of supporters. Through our membership drives, we’ve gained over 80,000 members and supporters who believe in standing up for what is right and fighting for our officers’ rights.
Here are a few highlights from our efforts:
National Police Week
National Police Support Fund sent a team to Washington, DC to stand with 40,000 officers and supporters at the 26th Annual National Police Week. We met with thousands of law enforcement officers, family members, and supporters from across the country to help us determine the issues that most affect officers and their loved ones. Learn more here, and check out our great “Why We Ride” segment and some of the great events we’ve attended here, here, and here.
Conference Attendance
National Police Support Fund spent much of the year attending conferences and conventions in order to gather first-hand perspectives on issues affecting law enforcement officers (LEOs) across the country. National Police Support Fund leadership attended events in Seattle, Kansas City, Orlando, Cleveland, and other cities to gain a broader understanding of how to best to support LEOs. Some highlights included:
- Fraternal Order of Police conferences
- National Troopers Coalition conference
- International Association of Chiefs of Police convention
We were able to meet thousands of officers face-to-face and gain a better understanding of their concerns and issues that matter most to the men and women in blue across our country. Lessons learned will be used to focus our efforts in 2019 and beyond.
Opinion Poll
Our team met with national police leaders and civilians alike to try and understand the most pressing issues affecting officers today. Look for an analysis of the data and what it means for our law enforcement officers and elected officials in the coming week. Our poll questions were regarding the following issues:
- Funding for Officer Safety Gear
- Police User of Crime-stopping and Deterrent Technologies
- Electing Strong Judges and Criminal Justice Officials
- Combating the American Drug Epidemic
- Fixing America’s Police Shortage
2018 Voter Guide
Our 2018 voter guide highlights issues that all voters should be concerned with. Throughout the year, we worked to educate supporters on these important issues, and the guide was a resounding success reaching over 38,000 individuals. Check out our website to learn more about the effectiveness of our voter guide.
Media Relations
National Police Support Fund has continued to grow as an authority in police-related issues. Our work has been cited in nationally-recognized and industry-leading outlets, such as PoliceOne. Our work has also been highlighted on:
WCVB Boston
The Northside Sun, Mississippi
Grassroots Leadership
In order to maintain a pulse on the ever-evolving industry, we are currently researching, vetting, and enlisting industry-insiders to form an advisory committee. This committee will advise the board of directors on vital issues and help us ensure our stance is in tune with the current political climate. Our first committee member has graciously accepted his role, and is helping us focus our efforts in 2019. Look for continued updates as we increase membership and broaden our committee membership.
2018 General Elections Endorsements
Our team was active in the Fall 2018 General Elections, and after researching candidates and weighing options, we chose to support candidates and referenda that best exemplified our values. National Police Support Fund is honored to have supported the following candidates and ballot referenda:
- Vote No Protect Ohio – Ohio voters made their voices heard, and voted to remain tough on drug offenders
- Georgia State Senate – National Police Support Fund supported Randy Robertson, a retired Law Enforcement Officer and former President of the Georgia Fraternal Order of Police in his winning bid for the Georgia Senate seat in District 29
- Florida FOP Legislative Fund – National Police Support Fund partnered with the Florida FOP Legislative Fund to fight against unfair legislation on the Florida House of Representatives
Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to work toward accomplishing our goals and provide a voice for officers nationwide. We look forward to continuing our efforts and expanding into 2019 and beyond.
For more information and to stay up-to-date on our activities, sign up for our monthly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
In service,
Simon Lewis
Executive Director, National Police Support Fund
