Genesee News

WASHINGTON—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-08) celebrated the beginning of National Police Week by announcing bipartisan legislation, supported by Republicans and Democrats, to increase funding for mid-Michigan police departments to help reduce crime and protect public safety.

Congressman Kildee’s Invest to Protect Act would create a new grant program to help local police departments recruit officers, improve officer retention, secure mental health resources for officers and purchase body cameras and other equipment. The program would benefit smaller police departments—those with less than 200 officers—that are often left out of federal police grant programs. Every police department in Genesee, Saginaw, Bay and Midland counties would be eligible.

“Police are an essential pillar of our society, helping to keep our neighborhoods and families safe. Local police departments should have the funding they need to recruit, train and equip their officers,” said Congressman Kildee. “I look forward to working with Republicans and Democrats this Congress to pass this bipartisan legislation to fund our police departments.”

“Congressman Kildee is far more than an elected leader who stands for Law Enforcement. He gets it done along with those with whom he serves! As the Sheriff of Genesee County, I am grateful for the Congressman’s work for the people,” said Christopher R. Swanson, Genesee County Sheriff.

“We appreciate all the support Congressman Kildee is working to provide to help us serve the citizens of the City of Saginaw and make our city a safer place to live, work and play,” said Robert M. Ruth, Chief of Police, Saginaw Police Department.

“I am proud to stand with Congressman Kildee in his fight to support Michigan law enforcement. Especially smaller, local departments have faced big challenges recruiting and retaining qualified officers due to their size and lack of resources. This bill would make important investments in departments like these—and in the men and women that serve in law enforcement —to give them the training and resources they need to keep mid-Michigan communities safe,” said Troy R. Cunningham, Bay County Sheriff.

"A reintroduction of the Invest to Protect Act would most definitely benefit the Midland Police Department. As a smaller department of just 50 sworn personnel and two non-sworn support staff, we have an extremely limited budget for ‘niceties’ in the areas of recruitment, retention, and mental health services. In addition to increasing retention rates, additional mental health focused resources under this legislation could be a real draw for individuals wishing to fulfill their dream of a law enforcement career. A department which builds and maintains an environment of mental health awareness, fosters acceptance and provides available treatment resources ultimately results in better overall health of its officers. It cannot be denied that truly healthy officers provide superior law enforcement services for the communities they serve," said Nicole Ford, Chief of Police, Midland Police Department.

“Thank you, Congressman Kildee, for your work to help mid-Michigan police. Police departments are not considered revenue-generating entities, and when you’re a small department, funding streams sometimes are more difficult to come by. These bills are what a department, like mine, needs. This type of federal support is what is needed at the municipal level,” said Reggie Williams, Chief of Police, Buena Vista Police Department.

“As with many other law enforcement agencies, we are having a difficult time recruiting and retaining qualified officers to work in our community. This legislation would provide much-needed assistance to our township and Police Department. I want to say thank you to Rep. Kildee for introducing this important legislation,” said Kevin Salter, Chief of Police, Charter Township of Flint.

Congressman Kildee’s bipartisan bill is also endorsed by the National Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Tactical Officers Coalition, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and the National Troopers Coalition.

Congressman Kildee has long worked to increase funding for mid-Michigan law enforcement, helping to keep neighborhoods safe. In September, Kildee voted to pass the Invest to Protect Act in the House of Representatives. In December, Kildee secured $4.3 million for eight mid-Michigan law enforcement agencies and the Michigan State Police, to make critical equipment upgrades, improve police officer training and meet the public safety needs of each community.

Original source can be found here.