The Council for Law Enforcement Reserves is building the case studies to bolster federal benefits for RLEOs and their families when they make the ultimate sacrifice, or are injured or permanently disabled as a direct result of their unpaid volunteer service to their communities. Like the National Guard and military's reserves, reserve law enforcement officers volunteer for a job that inherently involves tremendous personal risk, including the ultimate sacrifice.
It is time for our nation's leadership to recognize the signficant value provided by serving RLEOs, and to provide tangible protection to this vital component of our domestic security. It appears that our numbers have dwindled from 400,000 RLEOs reported a decade ago, to about 100,000 serving today. As unpaid volunteers look at the risks versus the benefits, and the significant personal commitment of time and resources required, the resulting decision to enter or stay in the reserve law enforcement profession is increasingly a "NO" vote.
The federal government could provide benefits that should be on par with what military personnel receive. It's the same risk and sacrifice, although the RLEOs takes this risk right here at home, to the benefit of the public's safety. Better death and disability benefits would provide protection that would bolster law enforcement's ability to attract and retain RLEOs. Fortunately, few RLEOs would ever actually require this protection. But, it allows tens of thousands of RLEOs and their families to remain confident about their choice to serve.
To expand upon this message, we need examples of RLEOs killed, disabled, or injured while in the line of duty. This information is vital to our effort to gain national attention and recognition for a volunteer community that remains overlooked, taken for granted, and largely forgotten. Please send these to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thanks!
