Director Spotlight : John Chapman

John Chapman has been part of the leadership team of LEAA for over ten years. Starting his service as a member of the Board of Directors, he worked his way up to being elected President in 2000. Prior to joining the LEAA Board, John was already a well respected peace officer and a local police leader. John Chapman was one of the first uniformed officers at the scene of the tragic 1991 mass murder at Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas. He also served as the president of his local FOP lodge.

John Chapman, representing law enforcement from across the great state of Texas, stands behind George W. Bush in 1994 at an LEAA sponsored press event in Dallas. LEAA -- although often viewed predominately as a national organization -- was one of the leading police groups to endorse Bush's campaign for Governor of Texas. As the challenger, Bush was running against a powerful incumbent, the notoriously anti-gun Ann Richards. John worked closely with the campaign and after Bush was elected governor Bush honored his campaign commitment and signed Right-to-Carry into law.

As LEAA did when Bush ran for Governor of Texas, LEAA led the law enforcement community in supporting candidate George Bush when he ran for President in 2000. Here, Chapman met with George W. Bush in Bill Clinton's home town of Little Rock, Arkansas. At this event LEAA endorsed Bush over Gore and led the way for other law enforcement groups to join the Bush Bandwagon.

LEAA often works closely with key leaders on Capitol Hill. Here, John Chapman traveled to the Washington, D.C. area to present Congressman Bob Barr with LEAA's Freedom Award in 1997. LEAA's political clout, like our positive and successful relationship with Congressman Barr, is in large measure, due to the strong and steady support of LEAA Members and Supporters.

Representing LEAA not only back home in Texas, Chapman is pictured at an event in 1994 with LEAA Life Member, Ted Nugent. Nugent, a rock and roll star, master outdoorsman, popular author and noted gun rights activist has long been a supporter of LEAA. Ted has been rock solid in his support of law enforcement and LEAA's flagship legislation to allow qualified off-duty and retired law enforcement to carry their firearms concealed, nationwide (H.R. 218 & S. 253).

At a law enforcement event that LEAA helped organize in Nevada, John Chapman meets with Kayne Robinson, Assistant Chief of Police, Des Moines, IA (Ret.). The event honored those who paid such a dear price related to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Chief Robinson, recently elected as the President of the National Rifle Association, has a long and distinguished law enforcement career. He is an outspoken leader on behalf of police who support the right to keep and bear arms and he is a tireless advocate for police firearms training and improving police/public relations. Attending this event were many LEAA Members. Appearing in uniform in this picture is LEAA Life Member, Thomas Hile (far right), a dedicated activist Member.

As a member of LEAA's Board, Chapman has long been part of LEAA’s aggressive political efforts. Here John traveled to Capitol Hill to join an LEAA press conference along with law enforcement representatives from New Jersey to Arizona, from Tennessee to California. This press conference helped to explain law enforcement's and crime victim's opposition to the "Clinton Crime Bill," with particular emphasis on the terrible "Clinton Gun and Magazine Ban." It is important to note that all of LEAA's elected directors and officers, including LEAA's President, serve in a non-compensated, all volunteer basis.

LEAA President John Chapman has a long record of being willing to 'roll up his sleeves and pitch in.' Pictured here he joined with LEAA staff on the road, far from home, working our booth at an industry event. These events are just a small part of LEAA's public education outreach efforts to provide the public with accurate, real-world facts on pressing law enforcement and criminal justice issues. Meeting with Members, law enforcement officers and industry/political VIP's is an integral part of Chapman's contribution to LEAA.

Uniformed officers are often prevented from expressing their strongly held pro-Second Amendment, tough law and order beliefs -- that is where LEAA comes in. John Chapman takes time out of an event to share the frustrations of working, rank-and-file cops from Little Rock, Arkansas who were fed up with the scandals and politics of the Clinton/Gore team. LEAA was the leading law enforcement voice criticizing this administration's failed policies including: labeling most cops as racist, opposing real, get tough with criminal reforms; and punishing honest gun owners for the acts of criminals.