May 31, 2007 ASY Newsletter
* Law Enforcement Equipment Program (LEEP)
“The Law Enforcement Equipment Program facilitates the transfer of used law enforcement equipment to any American armed forces unit to be used to equip or train a friendly foreign police force… We simply act as a go-between for the American law enforcement community and the military.”
-Steve Newton, Founder, LEEP
LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT PROGRAM
Take the LEEP for America
The Law Enforcement Equipment Program (LEEP) is in desperate need of used law enforcement equipment.
LEEP, founded by Steve Newton a retired Chief of Police, Marine and Navy Veteran, Founder of Silver Star Families of America (SSFOA) and a published author started LEEP to help provide used police equipment to Iraq and Afghanistan Police. "I believe that it is our responsibility to assist our Armed Forces in any and all ways possible."
LEEP needs the donations of used and outdated equipment that many Police Departments and Military People have lying around in back rooms being unused.
How can you help? Donate your old and outdated items such as Web gear, batons, helmets, body armor, cuffs, vests and anything else that you think might help these seriously under equipped police officers.
If you have any used equipment please contact: Trish Benefield TrishBene@bellsouth.net
LEEP is NOT A 501 c 3, however LEEP IS a NOT-FOR-PROFIT. LEEP does not house items, but does help donors find resources to ship the large amounts of equipment. 100% of all funds is used on LEEP.
Please consider making a donation to help send the shipments. Click on the Paypal icon to send secure payments by credit card or
Paypal account for LEEP to TrishBene@bellsouth.net
Contact Trish if you need more info.
Also visit our Iraq and Afghanistan pages for more information.
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LEEP IS NOT A 501C3
HOWEVER
LEEP IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT
LEEP
"LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT PROGRAM"
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America Supports You:
Group 'LEEPS' to Help Afghan Police
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 29, 2008 - Afghan National Police officers are getting help rebuilding from U.S and other countries' troops, but they're also getting a boost from friends they may never meet.
Air Force Master Sgt. Buffie Verhagen (far left) and a member of her Police Technical Advisory Team (center) pose with Afghan National Police officers. The Afghan officers are wearing equipment donated through the Missouri-based Law Enforcement Equipment Program. Courtesy photo
Steve Newton started the Law Enforcement Equipment Program as a way to provide used gear for American armed forces units to use in training or equipping friendly foreign police forces. The program accepts donations of used equipment from U.S. law enforcement departments and helps get it overseas.
"We simply act as a go-between for the American law enforcement community and the military," Newton said of the organization, more commonly known as "LEEP."
Fulfilling its mission requires help on the other side of the world, however, and that's where Air Force Master Sgt. Buffie C. Verhagen comes in.
Since she's serving as a police mentor and trainer on a provincial reconstruction team, she checked out the LEEP Web site after her father, a retired Houston police officer, told her about it. She let Newton know about her work with the Afghan police officers and has been receiving equipment through the program for about a year.
The equipment is particularly welcome, too.
"The overall condition of the Afghan National Police was, and is, still in poor condition, although strides have been made toward improvements, especially with training," Verhagen said. "Any gear, including cold-weather items, or any item related to law enforcement can be used."
LEEP has stepped up, providing pistol holsters, handcuff cases, ammunition holders and tactical vests, she said. While those donated items fill a tangible void, they also work to foster trust and respect between the Afghan National Police and coalition forces.
"We tell the (Afghan National Police) that the equipment was donated from police officers in the U.S. specifically for them," Verhagen said. "This shows our commitment to their development and really shows how the U.S. as a whole is working to provide assistance."
It also tightens a bond that spans geographic boundaries. Despite the differences between American and Afghan societies, the police officers share a common bond, V erhagen said.
Verhagen, who will be returning home soon, is grateful for LEEP and what it provided her, her team and the Afghan police officers who received the equipment.
"(It's) great in that it builds relationships with a specific U.S. military member or team and then sends resources tailored to the needs of a particular area," she said. "It's a fantastic way for our U.S. police to assist a country still in dire need."
LEEP has 1,200 pounds of gear available to ship to servicemembers in Afghanistan or Iraq, its two main shipping destinations. Shipping costs have proved to be a challenge for the Missouri-based program, however, and LEEP's administrators still are working out how to get the equipment into the hands that can use it.
The Law Enforcement Equipment Program is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU CONFERENCE CALL
with
SSgt. Kimberling and Trish Benefield
All I can say is "WOW!!" I am 'so' thrilled to be working with SSFOA and LEEP, because without you & these wonderful Organizations, I would not have been afforded such an OUTSTANDING opportunity to speak with one of our Heroes!! (They 'are' Heroes, too - don't let them kid you - ha!!)
First of all, the Staff Sergeant gave us some background: He has been in the Military for 17 years (Army) in Security Forces - and when he says 'security forces,' he not only means Military duties, but 'dual' duties: Law Enforcement duties, and Infantry duties. He has been married for 13 years, and has a 7-year old son who loves hunting, fishing, and being outdoors!! His wife still loves him, and thinks he's cute, but doesn't listen to him - lol!!
He has deployed a total of 1,197 days - and 997 of those days were spent in a combat zone. His last deployment was in 2007 in Afghanistan training the ANP (Afghanistan National Police). He and 22 of his Unit actually lived in 'town' - not in the FOB (Forward Operating Base) - they lived in an Afghan building, used the Afghan showers, ate the Afghan food, and said conditions are 'not' all that great. They are much better than a year ago, but they still have a Long way to go as far as a country in building itself UP!! (As he was very quick to point out, 'we' as America didn't become a country overnight - it took over 10 years - so, he's very pleased with the progress being made in Iraq and Afghanistan - he reiterated that we should realize it will take years for them to get better) The bigger cities, such as Kabul and Kandahar, are terrific, and seem affluent - it's the farmers and low-income families who have a tough time......... ......plus, the farmers battle not only the taliban and other vicious groups, but drug traffickers, as well. In fact, the SSgt. and his Unit confiscated over 117 million dollars in narcotics over a period of just '6 months!!' (The drug traffickers are still quite bad there)
His work with the ANP helped in building a wonderful rapport with the people - in fact, he gave an example of complete trust: An Afghani police lieutenant's brother's wife was due to give birth, and the baby was breach - based on the trust they had with the nationals, they were able to go into Baghdad Country (they took one Afghan as security with them) to help with the birth. He said knowing that the men are not to look at the women in the first place, the fact they put her life 'and' the baby's life in their hands said a LOT!! Both mother and baby were fine, and they were all very jubilant at the birth!!
The Afghan people WANT a normalcy of Police Operations, and are very willing to be trained. In fact, they have begun 'instructing the instructors' in Kandahar & Kabul - this will help take the load off of some of our Military. He said it is like kids getting 'candy from a candy store' when a shipment of police equipment arrives for their use - he was truly grateful for our help in that respect, he said.
The people on the call with me (besides Julia at the Penagon) were: Jeanie Clifford of Back in the Saddle Bit by Bit (BITS) - they provide therapy and entertainment through horses - are in Colorado - and she is going to make her Sheriff in Denver aware of LEEP!! ;o)
Also: Chris Truhe of Summit Supports Our Troops (Summit, New Jersey) - She has a shipment of Girl Scout Cookies going out soon!!
And: Cristin Enders & Justin Reynolds of USO World - Arlington, Virginia.
SSgt. Kimberling answered their questions of what 'we' as Americans can do to help build relationships with the Iraqi and Afghanistan people - he said 'anything' you can send for their children is a wonderful thing................think of your child, and what you would want them to have for the first day of school, for instance: shoes, clothing, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. He said the people (fathers and mothers) are the same as us - if our children need something, we will do without for ourselves to make sure our children have something. (One example was a gentleman with holes in his shoes who wanted his child to have new shoes) Anything we do to help their families will help our Military develop a wonderful relationship with them. As far as things for the Military, the same requests pop up, he said - phone cards, boxed dvd sets, etc., for the younger set - as far as the older guys (he laughed), things like playing cards are wonderful - ha!! He said if you send a volleyball or the like, then they have to say to the younger set, "Yes, son, you have to go outside to play with that!!" He was quite the character, and nice guy!! In fact, we ran over about 5 minutes on our call!!
Thanks for allowing me to do this - it was such a Joy!!
Hugs,
Trish
