EXC.036.a07

WHEREAS, many police agencies have severe personnel shortages in their firearm units; and,

WHEREAS, there is currently a need for National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) technicians and firearm examiners in many police laboratories; and,

WHEREAS, as a result of the shortages of trained firearm experts nationwide, many agencies have experienced backlogs in evidence being processed, thus causing the potential for delays in identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting criminals who have used firearms in the commission of crimes; and,

WHEREAS, the Global War on Terror has caused some members of the United States military to become disabled; and,

WHEREAS, some of these disabled veterans are police officers on military leave from their departments when they become disable; and,

WHEREAS, some many of these disabled veterans need to be retrained in order to start new careers as a result of their disabilities; now therefore be it

RESOLVED that the IACP strongly supports the creation, and full funding, of a program that would allow disabled veterans to be trained as ballistic laboratory technicians and as firearm examiners and other law enforcement investigative/support disciplines.