Dear Representatives Bice and Kaptur,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for H.R. 8675, the “Training Rural Law Enforcement Officers Act.”
Unfortunately, a significant training gap exists between larger law enforcement agencies and departments and their smaller, rural counterparts. Most often, this is due to common budgetary and staffing constraints that plague the latter. They are further removed—literally and figuratively—from resources that would allow them to better navigate complex but critical Federal funding opportunities.
This legislation serves to bridge that gap by authorizing the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to extend grants to certified and accredited law enforcement-related nonprofit organizations in order to train agencies that have fewer than 50 sworn personnel at no cost to them individually nor as a department.
Law enforcement deserves equal access to available resources that allow them to more effectively and safely carry out their duties. With something as high-risk and sensitive as public safety, there is no room for disparities or lapses in training and readiness. In this way, utilizing nonprofit organizations is an efficient means to ensure that communities are responded to with the compassion and timeliness that they deserve.
On behalf of the more than 382,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you both 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