Executive Director’s Report – 2018 Mid-Year Summary
As we near our two-year anniversary of our grassroots and political operations, National Police Support Fund is hitting its stride. We’ve continued to fight and stand up for law enforcement officers across the country and are gearing up for our 2018 general election push.
Over the past 18 months, we have focused on attending major events and conferences to learn more about issues affecting current and former officers, conducted opinion polls, created a voter guide to inform opinions of our supporters, and began executing our fall election strategy. Through our membership drives, we’ve gained over 30,000 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 effect 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.
Gathering at Police Unity Tour 2018
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 Equipment
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. We’ve received feedback from grassroots supporters and law enforcement leaders and engaged in a major advertising push to mid-term voters. The Voter Guide is available on our website for direct download.
2018 General Elections Endorsements
As November nears, we are turning our focus towards elections of candidates and issue referenda across the country that will define the narrative and have a major impact on police and law enforcement for years to come. Stay tuned to learn more about candidates, political causes and referenda and initiatives we’re weighing in on and what you can do to get involved.
Media Relations
We’re working to enhance our image and build contacts and connections with online and traditional media outlets. Here are some examples of the positive press we’re received in the last two weeks:
- WCVB Boston highlighted our research into the startling numbers of officers killed in the line of duty in recent years.
- The Northside Sun in Mississippi used our research into department recruitment and retention numbers to draw attention to police pay issues.
- PoliceOne.com used National Police Support Fund as an example of organizations striving to promote officer wellness programs during the annual International Chiefs of Police Conference in Orlando, Florida.
National Police Support Fund booth at National Troopers Coalition 2018
Advisory Committee
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. Look for our first committee member biographies and highlights in the coming weeks.
Conference Attendance
National Police Support Fund spent much of the year attending conferences and conventions in order to gather first-hand perspective on issues effecting Law Enforcement Officers 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 in both the Spring and Fall
- National Troopers Coalition conference in the Summer
- International Association of Chiefs of Police convention in the Fall
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.
Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to work towards 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