Press Release - Washington State Law Enforcement and Firefighters Endorse Cantwell, Praise Her Work Keeping Washington Safe

Press Release - Washington State Law Enforcement and Firefighters Endorse Cantwell, Praise Her Work Keeping Washington Safe

Cantwell Delivers for Washington First Responders; Eight Security Measures Introduced by Cantwell to be Signed into Law This Month

On Monday in Seattle, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell was joined by WACOPS Executive Director Bill Hanson, Washington State Patrol Troopers Association President Tom Pillow and Washington Council of Firefighters President Bud Sizemore who formally endorsed Cantwell for re-election. All of Washington state's major law enforcement and firefighter groups have endorsed Cantwell this year, including the Law Enforcement Administrators of Washington (sheriffs and police chiefs), the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs (WACOPS), the Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs, the Washington State Council of Firefighters, the Washington State Fraternal Order of Police, and the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association.

As the Senate finished its fall session, no less than eight measures introduced by Senator Cantwell to strengthen border, port and ferry security were sent to the president's desk to be signed into law. While in office, Senator Cantwell has worked to triple the number of inspectors and agents along the northern border. Senator Cantwell has stood up again and again for the security and safety of our nation and local communities, by making America's borders more secure from terrorists, and giving America's first responders and men and women in uniform the tools they need to protect our country and keep our communities safe.

"Senator Cantwell's strong leadership on homeland security, community safety, law enforcement and emergency services has earned her endorsements from the state's leading firefighter and law enforcement groups," said Bud Sizemore of the Washington State Council of Firefighters. "Time and again, Senator Cantwell has stood up to the Bush administration to make sure Washington state first responders have the resources we need to protect our state."

For the first time in years, violent crime rose in Seattle and across the country last year. But the Bush administration proposed $1.1 billion in cuts for local and state law enforcement for 2007. Cantwell believes that's not right and is fighting for funding for law enforcement and other first responders to keep us safe. Cantwell has worked to protect the COPS program from repeated attempts by Republicans to cut the program, which has put almost 2,000 police officers on the ground in communities across Washington state.

Gang violence has been a particular problem in Washington and is on the rise statewide. The Seattle Police Department's gang unit has already investigated more cases this year than they did in 2005. Cantwell has stood up to the president's attempts to cut funding for Byrne grants, which have been critical to helping Washington communities combat gang-related crime.

"Gangs are a growing problem in our state, and Senator Cantwell has been a strong ally of law enforcement in our efforts to rid gang violence from Washington's communities," said Bill Hanson, a retired state trooper and Executive Director of the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs. "When the Bush administration tried to slash funding for important crime-fighting programs, Senator Cantwell stood her ground and said no. We're going to do everything we can to help Senator Cantwell win this year because we need her leadership in the Senate."

Cantwell's work in the Senate has helped to keep our ports, borders and ferries safe. Cantwell helped secure funding for the Washington State Patrol's Vessel and Terminal Security (VATS), including $7.2 million for the Port Security Grant Program. The President is about to sign Cantwell's important new law requiring that passengers and vehicles coming into the U.S. from Canada are screened upon departure - a critical measure to keep us safe.

"Senator Cantwell has made protecting our ports, borders and ferries a top priority," said Tom Pillow, President of the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association. "Senator Cantwell's commonsense law, which requires passengers and vehicles coming over on ferries from Canada to be screened before they leave, will be signed by the president this month. Senator Cantwell knows that in order for first responders keep us safe, they must be given the resources they need to do their jobs. Cantwell fights every day to improve security for Washington state."

Cantwell has also been a strong supporter of law enforcement in battling the growing problem of methamphetamine abuse. Working with her colleagues, Cantwell helped secure $11 million for the Washington Meth Initiative to help shut down meth labs, investigate meth-related crimes and help prevent meth abuse. Cantwell worked to get Congress to deliver $100 million for the Meth Hot Spots grants to train state and local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute meth offenders. Cantwell has introduced legislation to study the link between meth crimes and identity theft, both of which are increasing in Washington state.

"With crime and violence on the rise, the federal government should be doing everything it can to support state and local law enforcement efforts," said Cantwell. "We must never put fighting crime on the back burner. I stand with these brave first responders here today determined to keep our communities safe."

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http://www.cantwell.com/news/release/view/?id=133