WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has many members who manage law enforcement public aircraft operations; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement aviation operations are critical to an agency in their ability to provide life-saving service and crime deterrence to their constituents; and 

WHEREAS, Congress passed and the President signed Public Laws 103-411, 105-137 and 106-181, which severely restricted law enforcement agencies' ability to effectively utilize their aircraft in the performance of their mission; and

WHEREAS, the ostensible purpose for enactment of these laws was the promotion of aviation safety and these laws accomplished no appreciable aviation safety purpose; and

WHEREAS, the laws do not address the important issues of allowing the appropriate level of training for law enforcement personnel to obtain Federal Aviation Administration Pilot Certificates, the maintenance of acceptable pilot proficiency standards and the minimum level of acceptable maintenance standards for aircraft not certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration, or commonly referred to as “military surplus aircraft”; and

WHEREAS, the IACP in cooperation with the National Sheriffs' Association, the Airborne Law Enforcement Association and the National Association of State Foresters support amendments to Public Law 103-411, 105-137 and 106-181 to correct the laws' deficiencies; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the IACP urges passage of legislation that would (1) allow for full pilot training to be considered when obtaining Federal Aviation Administration pilot certificates and in maintaining pilot proficiency; (2) mandate that pilots of public aircraft be Federal Aviation Administration certificated pilots; and (3) establish minimum maintenance standards for non Federal Aviation Administration certificated aircraft; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police encourages its membership to contact their Members of Congress to urge their support of such legislation.