COVID-19 Activity Updates

Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Jim Bugel, Vice President, AT&T’s FirstNet program, regarding expanded FOP interaction with the FirstNet program, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Jeffrey R. Favitta, Senior Law Enforcement Advisor to the Attorney General, regarding the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and other federal law enforcement agencies assisting state and local law enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with John H. Hill, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Partnership and Engagement (OPE) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and thanked him for the ongoing efforts to ensure that assistance to state and local law enforcement continues to be a priority.

Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Jack A. Rauch, Deputy Associate Director with the White House Office of Public Liaison, regarding the administration’s activities to combat the coronavirus and the president’s guidelines for “Opening Up America Again.”

Executive Director Jim Pasco received a call from Senator Amy Klobuchar regarding general questions on the welfare of FOP members and what was needed to assist the law enforcement community by way of additional congressional support.

National President Patrick Yoes participated in a series of conference calls with the National FOP’s Memorial Committee regarding plans to honor the law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty with a virtual memorial tribute.

National President Patrick Yoes spoke with Charles “Chuck” Dowd, a retired NYPD Assistant Chief who is now with Zebra Technologies, regarding the donation of 1,000 Zebra tablets for law enforcement officers in COVID-19 hotspots to stay connected.

National President Patrick Yoes received a letter from President Donald J. Trump, who expressed his appreciation for our country’s state and local law enforcement officers who have risen to the challenge to protect their fellow citizens, respond to emergencies and uphold the rule of law.

The National Legislative Office provided FOP members with a letter from Pete Gaynor, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to the nation’s Emergency Managers, which outlines lessons learned from the first 30 days of FEMA leading the “Whole-of-America” response to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. To view the letter, please click here.

Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison Mark McDonald participated in a conference call with staff in the offices of Representatives Val V. Demings (D-FL) and John H. Rutherford (R-FL), the co-chairs of the House Law Enforcement Caucus, to discuss a program to be administered by the Office of Community Oriented Police Services (COPS) to assist local and State law enforcement agencies with overtime costs.

Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison Mark McDonald represented the FOP on a stakeholder call with committee staff with the office of Senator Lindsay O. Graham (R-SC), Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, to discuss various issues that the law enforcement community is facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Legislative Liaison Mark McDonald spoke with Amy Huston, Lead Chief of Staff, State Outreach and Consultation for AT&T’s FirstNet program, regarding a special front-of-the-line program for FOP members seeking new or replacement phones or devices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information regarding the program will be released in the near future.