Baldwin Votes to Secure More Cops on the Beat

Press Release

Baldwin Votes to Secure More Cops on the Beat

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin voted today for legislation to put 50,000 more police officers on our nation's streets - including an estimated 110 new officers in south central Wisconsin. The C.O.P.S. Improvement Act of 2007, passed today in the House (381-34), comes as violent crime is on the rise locally and nationwide, according to a recent law enforcement association study and new FBI statistics.

"I'm proud to support this important legislation that is essential to fighting crime and domestic terrorism," said Congresswoman Baldwin. "C.O.P.S. Grants are another example of the kind of federal/local partnership that benefit all of our communities," Baldwin said. Baldwin is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and its Crime, Homeland Security, and Terrorism Subcommittee which has jurisdiction over the C.O.P.S. grant program.

The C.O.P.S. hiring program has been one of the most successful law enforcement programs in the nation's history. To date the program has put almost 120,000 more officers on the street nationwide, including 258 in Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District represented by Baldwin. Between 1998 and 2000, C.O.P.S. grants were responsible for reducing crimes by roughly 200,000 to 225,000 - one third of which were violent. In 1998, C.O.P.S. grants were responsible for an 8% decrease in crimes - and a 13% drop in violent crimes, according to a GAO study.

Yet, President Bush and the former Republican leadership in Congress eliminated the hiring program last year and, at the same time, violent crime has spiked across the nation. The C.O.P.S. Improvement Act, introduced by the new Democratic leadership and passed today in the House of Representatives, will breathe new life into the C.O.P.S. program locally and nationwide:

Officers and Deputies

Since 1994, 258 additional police officers and/or sheriff deputies have been hired in the 2nd District of Wisconsin. If the C.O.P.S. Improvement Act of 2007 passes into law, 110 more police officers will likely be put on the beat in south central Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District.

Funding

Since 1994, $26,041,607 in C.O.P.S. grants have been awarded to law enforcement agencies in the 2nd District of Wisconsin. If the C.O.P.S. Improvement Act of 2007 passes into law, an additional $7,944,897 will likely flow to the 2nd CD.

School Resource Officers

Since 1994, 8 additional police officers and/or sheriff deputies have been hired in the 2nd District of Wisconsin. If the C.O.P.S. Improvement Act of 2007 passes into law, 3 more school resource officers will likely be put on the beat.

Technology Grants

Since 1994, $8,590,619 in C.O.P.S. grants have been awarded to law enforcement agencies in the 2nd District of Wisconsin to purchase technology that enables agencies to put more officers on the beat. If the C.O.P.S. Improvement Act of 2007 passes into law, an additional $2,620,867 in technology grants will likely flow to the 2nd CD.

This legislation has been endorsed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriffs Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National League of Cities.

The bill must now go through the Senate.

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