Dear Senators Cortez Masto and Grassley,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for S. 678, the “Invest to Protect Act.”
Over the last few years, law enforcement officers have faced many challenges and threats to their well-being that have created a dangerous environment for those sworn to protect the public. These challenges have ranged from violence against officers to lagging technology, recruitment and retention issues, and mental health concerns. Smaller municipalities in particular have seen an increased strain on the men and women in blue. We believe that your legislation would be a step in the right direction to combat these issues that plague law enforcement officers in smaller municipalities.
Your legislation would establish a grant program, administered by the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), that would be used for the training of officers from police departments and municipalities that employ fewer than 200 law enforcement officers. The funding appropriated would be $50 million over a five-year period and the trainings would include de-escalation, domestic violence response, and officer safety programs. Additionally, this program could also be used to provide body-worn cameras for these local municipalities and includes funding for the storing and securing of body camera data that is collected.
This funding could also be used for the recruitment of new officers, addressing officer retention issues, and it could provide up to $10,000 in tuition aid for officers in eligible departments who pursue a graduate degree in mental health, public health, or social work. Lastly, the funding could also be used for mental health services, treatments, and therapies for active police officers.
On behalf of the more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I am proud to offer our support for this legislation. 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