McCain, Obama Address Crime and Homeland Security Issues

October 22, 2008 | National News

Candidates Answer IACP Questions in Upcoming Issue of Police Chief Magazine

Alexandria, VA -- In an effort to engage the major party presidential candidates in a discussion about crime and homeland security issues in this U.S. presidential election, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) submitted a series of questions to Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). These questions and each candidate’s responses will be featured in the upcoming October edition of Police Chief Magazine.

A copy of the Candidate Q&A may downloaded here.

“Protecting our communities is an issue that transcends politics. Crime and violence affect us all and we must together forge solutions that will make America safer,” said Ronald Ruecker, IACP President and Director of Public Safety for City of Sherwood, Oregon. “We are pleased that both campaigns responded to the IACP’s questions because the American public needs to know how each presidential candidate plans to protect our communities from both crime and terrorism. These issues touch the lives of all Americans and as candidates for the Presidency, Senators McCain and Obama have a responsibility to address them head on.”

The IACP provided each candidate with six questions that focus on the critical issues confronting the law enforcement community today. These include:

• Combating Rising Violent Crime
• Homeland Security Strategy
• Immigration Enforcement
• Illegal Narcotics and Drug Trafficking
• Federal Assistance to State, Tribal and Local Law Enforcement Agencies

The IACP is a nonpartisan organization that neither endorses candidates nor contributes to campaigns; the nation’s chiefs of police have no agenda, political or otherwise, beyond their sworn duty to protect the public. The IACP’s sole purpose in presenting these questions to both candidates is that the association’s members in the United States, as well as the American public, deserve to know what steps the next administration will take to combat crime and terrorism and to make communities across the nation safer.

Founded in 1893, the International Association of Chiefs of Police is the world’s oldest and largest association of law enforcement executives with more than 22,000 members in nearly 100 countries. For more information, visit www.theiacp.org.