Media Release: Washington, D.C. – September 11, 2012. New York Congressman Peter King has been named the sixth recipient of the Supt. Fred V. Morrone 9/11 Memorial Award. The announcement was made by Jay Grant Secretary General of the InterPortPolice –International Association of Airport and Seaport Police (IAASP) and Executive Chairman of the 9/ll Award Committee. The presentation will take place in New York City on October 30, 2012.
“We are delighted to have Congressman King as our sixth recipient, Grant stated. “His leadership in matters of homeland security have played an important part in building our path to protecting our airports, seaports and transport system in America and working with our allies worldwide.”
Representative King understands the requirements to protect our national infrastructure and provides a course of assurance to maintain a strong security preparedness, said Port of Los Angeles Police Chief Ronald J. Boyd, who is the president of IAASP. “Terrorism and disaster have no boundaries. He has forged programs that assist us here in the U.S. and around the globe setting a standard as we move forward in the years to come.”
Representative King from New York’s 3rd District, is Chairman of the U.S. House of Representative’s Homeland Security Committee. He joins a list of recipients who have contributed domestically and internationally in the fight against terrorism and working to make the world a safer place. Former recipients include New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson, White House Homeland Security Advisor Francis Townsend, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
The Morrone 9/ll Memorial Award will be presented at a security dinner being held in New York City on October 30 at the Chelsea Pier 61 Lighthouse Restaurant. The dinner will conclude a day of 9/ll events by the InterPortPolice that include the inaugural presentation of the International Police and Public Safety 9/ll Medal. The policing and security program is being held in conjunction with the ISC East exhibit event being held at the Jacob Javits Conference Center October 29 – 31, 2012.
International Police and Public Safety 9/ll Medal
The presentation of the International Police and Public Safety 9/ll Medal honor the police officers that died in 9/ll. The Medals will be presented to the responding departments on behalf of the families the inaugural International Police and Public Safety 9/ll Medal.
The medals will be presented to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department which lost 37 officers and the New York City Police Department which lost 23 officers.
The International Police and Public Safety 9/11 Medal program is being established to recognize heroism, distinguished and lifetime achievement to those who fight every day fighting terrorism and transnational crime. Recipients will be awarded the designation IPM (International Police Medal or International Public Safety Medal). After the inaugural presentation, the 2012 recipients of law enforcement officers and public safety officials in 10 categories who have distinguished themselves in their field in fighting terrorism and transnational crime will be presented their medals. The ceremony will take place from 8 to 10 A.M at the Jacob Javits Conference Center in New York City. After the ceremony there will be a reception and a keynote luncheon for attending law enforcement and public officials. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required at interportpolice.org.
About the Superintendent Fred V. Morrone 9/ll Memorial Award
The Fred V. Morrone 9/ll Memorial Award was established the InterPortPolice in 2007. On September 11, 2001, New York & New Jersey Port Authority Police were the first law enforcement personnel to respond to the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.
Officers quickly rushed into the burning buildings and helped rescue thousands of employees. Thirty-seven of these heroic men and women were killed that day when the towers collapsed. In addition 23 New York City Police Department officers and 343 New York City firefighters died. One of those heroes was Superintendent of Police Fred Morrone, the most senior police officer and official to perish. Superintendent Morrone was serving as the incoming president of the InterPortPolice – International Association of Airport and Seaport Police at the time of this death.
One of Morrone’s concerns was always the lack of professional port police training for police officers in third world countries and ensuring all police first responders working in the public transportation field were properly trained.
Following Morrone’s death, the international board resolved to “Never Forget” and set out an initiative in Morrone’s memory by establishing an education training, information sharing and a learning exchange program. The Award programs assist in honoring policy leaders, law enforcement and public safety officials who continue the fight against terrorism and transnational crime. The funding comes from the new 9/11 Award Committee Sponsorship program.
About the InterPortPolice
The InterPortPolice – International Association of Airport and Seaport Police – coordinates information sharing, intelligence, training, best practices and operational issues with member jurisdictions having responsibility for law enforcement and public safety at airports, seaports and the transport system within their nation and community. Since 1969 departments and agencies have worked together as a Global Force to prevent transnational crime and one of the worse crimes of all, terrorism; ensuring public safety of passengers, the supply chain and critical infrastructure worldwide.
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