Joined By State Troopers And Police Chief In Barre, Welch Announces Support For Local Law Enforcement

Press Release

Joined by state troopers and police chief in Barre, Welch announces support for local law enforcement

Rep. Peter Welch joined state troopers and the local police chief today in Barre to discuss his support for improving federal assistance for local law enforcement.

Before the announcement, Welch was briefed on local law enforcement issues with Barre City Police Chief Timothy Bombardier. Last week he was briefed on statewide issues by members of the Vermont Troopers Foundation in Washington.

Cpt. John Filipek and Sgt. Mike O'Neil, both state troopers, joined Welch and Chief Bombardier outside the Barre Police Department.

Welch supported legislation in the U.S. House last week to pass the COPS Improvement Act. The legislation, which is now in the Senate, is projected to give Vermont access to $10 million in federal COPS funding over the next six years.

"My goal in Congress is to help Vermonters meet local priorities. I have heard from Vermont's law enforcers that the COPS program has provided vital support to local police in keeping Vermonters safe," said Welch.

Welch added, "We need to put more cops on the beat and make sure they have the equipment they need to do the job of preventing crime and protecting the public."

For Vermont, says Welch, the impact of the COPS program based on past support is significant over the next six years:

Officers and Deputies

Since 1994, 257 additional police officers and/or sheriff deputies have been hired in Vermont. With the passage the COPS reauthorization, 110 more police officers will likely to be put on the beat in Vermont.

Funding

Since 1994, COPS has invested $35,425,072 in Vermont's law enforcement agencies. An additional $10,807,649 is likely to be received by Vermont if the legislation is enacted.

School Resource Officers

Since 1994, the COPS program has enabled law enforcement agencies in Vermont to hire 30 additional school resource officers and 13 additional officers will likely be hired.

Technology Grants

Since 1994, the COPS program has sent $13,040,596 to Vermont to purchase technology and training. With passage of the COPS Improvement Act, an additional $3,978,487 in technology grants will be sent to Vermont. These grants will allow police agencies to purchase equipment such as lap top computers for patrol cars and crime tracking software.

Since 1994, 257 additional police officers and/or sheriff deputies have been hired in Vermont. With the passage the COPS reauthorization, 110 more police officers will likely to be put on the beat in Vermont.

Funding

Since 1994, COPS has invested $35,425,072 in Vermont's law enforcement agencies. An additional $10,807,649 is likely to be received by Vermont if the legislation is enacted.

School Resource Officers

Since 1994, the COPS program has enabled law enforcement agencies in Vermont to hire 30 additional school resource officers and 13 additional officers will likely be hired.

Technology Grants

Since 1994, the COPS program has sent $13,040,596 to Vermont to purchase technology and training. With passage of the COPS Improvement Act, an additional $3,978,487 in technology grants will be sent to Vermont. These grants will allow police agencies to purchase equipment such as lap top computers for patrol cars and crime tracking software.

Since 1994 when the program was established, the COPS program has been one of the most successful law enforcement programs in the nation's history. The program has put almost 120,000 more officers on the street nationwide, including 257 in Vermont.

The reauthorization calls for putting 50,000 additional police officers on the street over the next 6 years - authorizing $600 million a year for COPS hiring grants. It also authorizes $350 million a year for COPS technology grants, and $200 million a year for hiring community prosecutors.

Congress's action reverses an effort by the Bush Administration to zero fund the hiring portion of COPS.

Welch commended Senator Patrick Leahy's leadership on the COPS program as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which approved companion legislation in the Senate that Leahy has cosponsored. "Senator Leahy has been a long-time advocate for the COPS program, which has provided so much support to Vermont and produced real results, including support for over 250 additional police officers since 1994," said Welch.

The bill also authorizes funding to help hire community prosecutors and contains "troops to cops" provisions providing for hiring police officers coming out of the military.

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