November 27, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Another major law enforcement organization has stepped to the plate in support of efforts to build the first-ever national museum dedicated to law enforcement.

The Executive Board of the New England Police Benevolent Association, I.U.P.A., AFL-CIO, recently voted unanimously to commit $100,000 to the National Law Enforcement Museum, scheduled to open in the nation's capital in 2011. The donation was raised through the efforts of the New England PBA Charities, the association's fundraising arm, and was announced at the 2007 Inaugural Convention of the New England PBA, held in Portsmouth, NH.

As more than 100 delegates looked on, NEPBA President Bryan W. McMahon and Patrolman Jeff Strunk of the Billerica (MA) Police Patrolman's Union, NEPBA Local 5, presented the first installment from NEPBA Charities to Craig Floyd, Chairman and CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), which is leading the Museum effort.

Patrolman Strunk is the son of Billerica Police Officer Thomas Strunk, who was tragically killed in May 1985 while attempting to stop a drunk driver. His name is engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, along with the names of nearly 18,000 other law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history.

"The New England PBA has demonstrated once again that it is truly committed to the men and women it represents, as well as all officers who serve and protect, especially those who have made the supreme sacrifice," Mr. Floyd told the delegates. "We are very proud to have the New England PBA as a valued partner in our efforts to build this long-overdue tribute to the law enforcement profession," he added.

Mr. Floyd praised New England PBA President McMahon and Executive Director Jerry Flynn, a former member of NLEOMF Board of Directors, for their leadership and commitment to both the Memorial and Museum. Detective McMahon, of the Lowell (MA) Police Department, was honored as the NLEOMF's Officer of the Month for May 2007 for his dedicated public service both on and off duty.

"We are proud to have partnered with the NLEOMF, and we are excited about the progress of the Museum," said Executive Director Flynn. Added President McMahon, "The membership of the New England PBA is committed to this project, and the leadership of this organization is determined to fulfill that commitment."

Authorized by Congress in the year 2000, the National Law Enforcement Museum will be an architecturally inspiring, 95,000 square foot, mostly underground museum located just blocks from the U.S. Capitol and directly adjacent to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. When it opens in 2011, the Museum will provide an estimated half million visitors a year with a compelling and comprehensive look at law enforcement in America through a combination of high-tech, interactive exhibitions and interesting historical artifacts. Groundbreaking for the Museum is scheduled for 2008.

The privately funded Museum has launched an $80 million capital campaign, with approximately $32 million raised to date. The New England PBA is one of approximately three dozens law enforcement organizations nationally that have committed $100,000 or more to the Museum project.



MEDIA CONTACT:
Kevin Morison, 202.737.7134