Letter to Jeanie Forrester, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee - Support Funding for Police Standards
Letter
Senator Jeanie Forrester, Chair
Senate Finance Committee
State House, Room 103
Concord, NH 03301
Dear Madam Chair and Members of the Senate Finance Committee:
I write in support of Senate Bill 527, "making an appropriation to the police standards and training council, repealing the Police Standards and Training Council training fund, making an appropriation to the department of safety for the purchase of state police cruisers."
Public safety is our most important responsibility as a state, and well-trained law enforcement officers are key to maintaining New Hampshire as one of the safest states in the nation. New Hampshire's unified approach to police training and strong tradition of community policing has helped make our law enforcement officers among the most effective in the country, and has helped to ensure successful cross-agency coordination and cooperation. As the law enforcement community and our state have faced new challenges, the Police Standards and Training Council has been at the forefront of helping meet them, including offering training to help all officers work with individuals facing behavioral health issues and helping officers understand how to address the demand side of the substance abuse crisis.
Senate Bill 527 is critical to ensuring that the Council is able to continue its important mission of training law enforcement officers to prepare them for public safety challenges that we face as a state. It is the responsibility of state government, working with local and county government, to ensure that our police officers have the resources they need to keep our streets and communities safe. Senate Bill 527 would help us fulfill this responsibility as leaders in state government and help maintain public safety for our people, our communities and our state.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to continue working with you to ensure public safety across the state through maintaining a well-equipped and well-trained police force.
With every good wish,
Margaret Wood Hassan
Governor
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