Dear Representatives Pappas and Fitzpatrick,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for H.R. 1649, the “Establishing Accreditation Grants for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Act.”
The accreditation of a law enforcement agency can increase their accountability, improve operational effectiveness and enhance community trust. However, accreditation can be a costly and time-consuming process, especially for smaller agencies. Less than 10% of the nation’s 18,000 law enforcement agencies are accredited, and the FOP is committed to increasing the number of accredited agencies nationwide.
Your legislation would establish a grant program that would pay the certification or re-certification fees for small to mid-size agencies that have fewer than 350 employees. Rather than choosing between hiring an additional patrol officer or paying for accreditation fees, an agency could do both. An accredited agency can better serve its officers, employees, and the communities that they are sworn to protect.
On behalf of the more than 364,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you both for your leadership on this critical issue. If I can provide any additional assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President