Community Relations Service

DARYL BORGQUIST
202/305-2935
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/CRS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS) Director Sharee M. Freeman will be among keynote speakers for a very special conference for families of peace officers (police officers, firefighters, correctional officers, and others) slain in the line of duty. The conference will be hosted by the Asociacion De Miembros De La Policia De Puerto Rico on August 17, 2002, at 11:00 a.m. at Km. 20.9. Road #1, in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

"This is a special kind of conference bringing together an important group of people that hold the fabric of our society together: peace officers and fire fighters. The Community Relations Service which I direct, is a specialized federal conciliation service available to governors, mayors, police and fire chiefs, and school superintendents to help resolve and prevent racial and ethnic conflict, violence, and civil disorder. We help local officials, residents, and communities such as those in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands tailor locally defined resolutions when conflict and violence threaten community stability," said Director Sharee M. Freeman.

Other conference invited participants include the U.S. Attorney for Puerto Rico, Humberto Garcia; Superintendent of Police, Miguel Periera; Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Puerto Rico Office, Marlene Hunter; President of the Asociacion De Miembros De La Policia De Puerto Rico, Mr. Jose J. Taboda De Jesus; Mr. Herminio Figueroa, a Special Assistant to Chief Cartagena of the Puerto Rico Fire Department; Public Safety Officers Benefits Program official, U.S. Department of Justice, Ms. Valerie Neal; Ms. Teri Miyares, a widow of a slain police officer and a representative of Concerns of Police Survivors; Sra. Ester Reyes, president of Slain Officers Families; and representatives from the U.S. Virgin Islands police and fire departments. More than 50 families of slain peace officers will attend and receive information on benefit programs.

Persons who are killed in the line of duty and their families are owed our respect and our gratitude. Local law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Justice have programs that can provide assistance and this conference will give agencies and families important information on benefits available to them.

For more information about the Community Relations Service, a unique racial conflict resolution and prevention agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, or to obtain information on best practices for responding to racial conflict, please see its web site at: www.usdoj.gov/crs.