WHEREAS, Subtitle A, Title XX of P.L. 103-322, the Crime Bill, authorized the Police Corps Program to provide funding for college tuition assistance in furthering the education of high school students in exchange for time commitments to serve as police officers; and

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police opposed, and continues to oppose, the Police Corps Program as an inefficient means to provide for higher educational opportunities and greater professionalism within the field of law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, the Police Corps Program has received increased funding through the Congress in the past two yearly appropriations at $10 million in 1995 and $20 million for 1997; and

WHEREAS, the appropriations have been restricted only for offering scholarships to non-law enforcement officers in exchange for a four year commitment to serve as a police officer upon graduation from a four year college program; and

WHEREAS, International Association of Chiefs of Police believes that this money would be better spend providing tuition assistance for current police officers who have already made the commitment to a career in law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, Subtitle B of Title XX within P.L. 103-322 – does allow for the funding of current police officers’ higher education; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), duly assembled at its 103rd annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona, urge Congress, the President of the United States, and the Attorney General to cooperatively allow for the transfer of all current and future Police Corps Program funding to provide for the further education of current police officers as proscribed by Subtitle B; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the position of the membership of the IACP be conveyed in writing to all members of Congress, to the President of the United States, to the U.S. Attorney General, and to the Director of the Community Oriented Policing Services (C.O.P.S.) Office upon ratification.