Letter to Sen. Jerry Moran, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Vice-Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee - Durbin, Duckworth Push For Greater Federal Investments In Public Safety & Community Policing

Letter

Dear Chairman Moran and Ranking Member Shaheen:

As you consider funding levels for Fiscal Year 2020, we urge you to fund the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program at a minimum of $400 million.

The COPS Hiring program represents a fiscally responsible solution to ensure that our communities remain safe; the Brookings Institution found it to be "one of the most cost-effective options available for fighting crime." When officers establish a presence on their patrols using community policing principles, they can develop positive relationships with the communities they serve. In turn, these relationships increase law enforcement's ability to solve local crimes and resolve public safety problems. This proactive approach to policing prevents crime from occurring, saving taxpayers the high societal costs associated with crime, incarceration, and services for victims.

Since its creation, the COPS Office has assisted over 13,000 of the nation's 16,000 jurisdictions with over $14 billion in funding to hire approximately 129,000 additional officers. As you know, the opening of the COPS Hiring Program grant solicitation is on hold due to the issuance of a nationwide injunction by a U.S. District Court on April 12, 2018. Nonetheless, this program plays an essential role in our federal government's support for local law enforcement and should therefore receive the highest possible level of funding. The COPS Office received more than 1,100 CHP applications during the FY 2017 open solicitation period from law enforcement agencies in every state and US territory. After careful review of all applications, the COPS Office made FY 2017 CHP awards to 179 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies totaling $98,495,397 to support the hiring of 802 full time law enforcement officers. Clearly, the program is in high demand and unable to meet that demand even at current levels.

We are supported in this request by law enforcement organizations including the Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association. We appreciate the hard work and leadership that you have shown on these issues. Ongoing crime and violence in our cities continue to demonstrate the vital need for increased police protection in our communities. Therefore, as you determine the funding levels for this program, we ask that you support funding for the COPS Hiring Program at the highest possible level.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.