Dear Representative Harrigan,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for H.R. 6911, the “COPS Anti-Organized Crime and Cartel Enforcement Act.”
This legislation would establish a new grant program to be administered by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that would provide resources for State and local law enforcement agencies to create and equip specialized units dedicated to combatting organized crime, cartel operations, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The bill allows for these funds to be used to hire officers to fill these roles, or to replace officers who transfer to these specialized units. The grant program would provide resources to help train officers in counter-organized crime tactics and intelligence gathering methods. Jurisdictions with a documented high presence of cartel, gang, or TCO activity would be prioritized.
The establishment of a program like this is consistent with Executive Orders issued by the first and second Trump Administrations, which has made anti-cartel activity and border security a top priority for our country. Helping State and local agencies create and equip units focusing on these threats will make our nation safer.
On behalf of the more than 382,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you for your leadership on this important issue. If I can provide any additional information about this bill, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President