Minnesota State Wire

The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program awards grants to state and local law enforcement agencies so they can hire new officers and provide needed training, technology, and equipment 

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the COPS Reauthorization Act to extend critical support for state and local law enforcement agencies across the country. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program through FY 2029. The COPS program awards grants to state and local law enforcement agencies so they can hire new officers and provide training, technology, and equipment. It also enables the Justice Department to provide technical assistance to community leaders and law enforcement agencies at all levels.

“As a former prosecutor, I know the difference that the COPS program can make in combating crime and keeping our communities safe,” said Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will make sure this critical program is supported and that state and local police departments will be able to rely on it to continue hiring and providing needed tools and training to our law enforcement officers.”

“Reauthorizing the community-oriented policing services (COPS) program will help recruit and retain officers and strengthen local law enforcement across Alaska, from our rural communities to cities like Fairbanks and Anchorage,” said Murkowski. “As Alaska continues to grapple with the challenges of public safety, I’m proud to join Senator Klobuchar in this bipartisan effort that will make our communities more secure. We owe it to our local law enforcement to provide them with the training, tools, and information they need to keep themselves and Alaskans safe.” 

The COPS Reauthorization Act is cosponsored by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Thom Tillis (R-NC). The bill has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police and the National Police Officers Association.

Klobuchar has long worked to provide law enforcement with the resources they need. 

Klobuchar helped secure significant funding for the COPS program in the 2022 end of year budget bill, including funding for the COPS Hiring Program which helps provide law enforcement agencies with the resources they need to hire additional officers. She has also successfully fought for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, which has provided state and local law enforcement with needed support to hire, train, and equip public safety officers. 

In 2022, Klobuchar and Senator John Cornyn’s (R-TX) bipartisan Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act was signed into law. This legislation supports state and local law enforcement agencies by funding mental health courts, crisis intervention teams, and other programs that help law enforcement assist people experiencing mental health challenges.

Original source can be found here.