Norton, King Introduce Department of the Treasury Officer Protection Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Peter King (R-NY) today announced they have introduced the Department of the Treasury Officer Protection Act of 2019, which would allow Treasury Department police officers, including those who work at the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), to carry their service weapons home with them after they are no longer on duty.

Currently, although both are uniformed police officers working for the Treasury Department, U.S. Mint police officers are allowed to carry their service weapons home, while BEP police officers are not. BEP officers, therefore, often carry personal firearms while commuting to and from work because they wear uniforms and could be a target as security professionals. However, BEP officers have no place to securely store their weapons at government facilities, creating possibly dangerous situations of officers having to leave their firearms in their cars. There is no meaningful distinction between police officers for the two agencies and they should be treated equally.

"Officers who protect the public, risking their own lives, should be given the protection and convenience of carrying their service weapons home to protect themselves and the public alike," Norton said. "The Treasury Department should not have separate rules for different law enforcement agencies under its umbrella. BEP officers were among the first responders when a gunman opened fire at the United States Holocaust Museum in 2009 and play a vital role in keeping the public and government buildings safe."

"Unfortunately too many of our uniformed police officers are targets for violence," King said. "This legislation will go a long way in helping reduce the vulnerability of BEP officers."