Dear Mr. Chairman and Representatives DeLauro, Rogers, and Meng,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to respectfully request that the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program and those programs and grants administered by the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) be fully funded in FY26, especially to offset inflation costs.
The Byrne JAG and COPS programs play many vital roles in the law enforcement field. They assist with officer recruitment and retention, bolster smaller departments, enhance crime prevention efforts, support educational programs, provide mental health training and substance abuse treatment, as well as provide access to technologies to ensure our officers can carry out their duties safely, effectively, and efficiently.
These programs are the keystone of community-oriented policing, which has been the basis of our national policing and crime-fighting strategy for over 30 years. For example, funding in prior years has allowed for more departments to deploy the mandatory use of body-worn cameras and training on de-escalation, bias, and use-of-force.
On behalf of the more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you for considering the view of our officers on the beat and ask that you continue to support them by fully funding the Byrne JAG program and those programs administered by the COPS Office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President