Supporting the Badge

by   |  May 21, 2007

When it comes to public service, law enforcement officers serve on the frontlines – sacrificing their very lives to keep communities safe for the rest of us. And when it comes to law enforcement, AFSCME stands on the frontlines of the fight for better pay and benefits, safer work environments and the highest standards of professionalism. On the heels of National Police Week – held annually May 11 through 15 – the union renewed its call for public safety officer legislation. This would provide health care benefits for the families of those killed in the line of duty, secure collective bargaining rights for public safety officers (including those working in corrections) and enable more officers to rely on the promise of a secure retirement by receiving Social Security benefits. AFSCME Connecticut Council 15 Exec. Dir. Jim Howell, who heads the union’s law enforcement initiative, says it best: “Public safety officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our nation and keep it strong. We deserve basic workplace protections.”