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S y n o
p s i s
Founded on March 16, 2002, LEAP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization made up
of current and former members of the law enforcement and criminal justice
communities who are speaking out about the failures of our existing drug
policies. Those policies have failed, and continue to fail, to effectively
address the problems of drug abuse, especially the problems of juvenile drug
use, the problems of addiction, and the problems of crime caused by the
existence of a criminal black market in drugs.
Although those who speak publicly for LEAP are people from the law
enforcement and criminal justice communities, a large number of our
supporting members do not have such experience. You don’t have to have law
enforcement experience to join us.
By continuing to fight the so-called "War on Drugs," the US government has
worsened these problems of society instead of alleviating them. A system of
regulation and control of these substances (by the government, replacing the
current system of control by the black market) would be a less harmful, less
costly, more ethical, and more effective public policy.
Please consider joining us and helping us to achieve our goals: 1) to
educate the public, the media and policy makers about the failure of current
policies, and 2) to restore the public’s respect for police, which has been
greatly diminished by law enforcement’s involvement in enforcing drug
prohibition.
B i o
Peter Christ retired as a police captain after a 20-year career enforcing drug laws. From the beginning, Peter believed "the drug war can never be won and it is doing more harm than good." After retiring in 1989, Peter began speaking out publicly against that War. In 1993, he became one of the first members of "ReconsiDer", one of the original forums on drug policy, involving speakers from many diverse backgrounds. Peter quickly developed into the group's leading spokesperson, appearing at hundreds of venues.
Peter then originated the idea of creating LEAP, a drug policy reform group of current and former members of law enforcement modeled on "Vietnam Veterans Against the War". In 2002, after four years of Peter's preparation, LEAP finally emerged as a viable international nonprofit educational organization.
Christ is one of the most experienced of the LEAP speakers, having performed before hundreds of civic, professional, educational, and religious organizations, plus conducting television and radio interviews in dozens of markets. Peter speaks of the Drug War's impact on: police/community relations; the safety of law enforcement officers and suspects; police corruption and misconduct; and the financial and human costs associated with current drug policies. These issues include the effect of drug prohibition on the judiciary, sentencing issues, prison populations and minority communities, as well as the usefulness of drug education programs in reducing drug abuse.
