Bill Clinton: “Each day our Nation's law enforcement officers step onto the street, putting their lives on the line to protect our…”

“Each day our Nation's law enforcement officers step onto the street, putting their lives on the line to protect our communities. These honorable men and women risk so much so that others can feel safe. New Yorkers owe our State and local law enforcement officers an enormous debt of gratitude. The historic drop in crime that we have seen in the last few years is truly a reflection of their fine work and tireless dedication. The low-crime rate that New York City enjoys today would never have been possible without the extraordinary work of the New York City Police Department. One small step we can take to begin to repay that debt is ensuring that our men and women in blue are equipped with the tools they need to protect themselves from the constant dangers they face; and that police departments around the country have the additional resources they need to meet new demands placed on them. In the past several months, their responsibilities have only grown larger. From the first moments our country saw NYPD officers at the base of the World Trade Center towers, the role of police officers around the country was changed forever. The September 11 terrorist attacks put communities around America on the frontlines in our war against terrorism at home, and our local public safety officers must now be prepared for the unimaginable: biological and terrorist attacks.”