Cops Hiring Program Funding

Floor Speech

Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I congratulate the senior Senators from Maryland and Alabama for their excellent work putting together a Commerce, Justice, Science--CJS--appropriations bill that invests in critical national priorities. At this moment, I would like to invite Chairwoman MIKULSKI to enter into a colloquy about how important that the Community-Oriented Policing Services, COPS, Hiring Program is for our local law enforcement personnel. Given the budget shortfalls faced by states and local governments, federal resources through the COPS program are absolutely essential to ensure that work we are doing locally to prevent domestic violence and drug trafficking, for example, do not go neglected during this recession. I know Senator Mikulski has championed the COPS program, and. I would love to hear more of her thoughts.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Certainly, I thank the Senator for his kind words. As the Senator noted, I am a strong supporter of the COPS Hiring Program. This year in particular, we faced difficult funding decisions and had to juggle a number of priorities because we were trying to make up for years of underinvestment in Justice Department programs. That is why our fiscal year 2010 CJS spending bill provides $100 million for the COPS Hiring Program to put an additional 500 cops on the beat, patrolling our streets and protecting our families. As we move forward to conference with the House, I expect to hear from Democratic members about the need to increase those funds. I intend to do my part in conference to see that this program remains a high priority in the conference report.

Mr. BENNET. I agree with the Senator that we need to ensure that our law enforcement ranks remain stable. In February, this body took significant steps to ensure that our law enforcement maintained its ranks through investments made in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The stimulus provided $1 billion for the COPS Hiring Recovery Program, CHRP, which was intended to help communities hire and rehire police officers during the recession. Nearly 7,300 CHRP applications requesting over 39,000 officers and $8.3 billion in funds were submitted to the COPS Office. Because of limited funds available, COPS was able to fund only 1,046--14 percent of the 7,272 CHRP requests received during the 2009 solicitation.

Some local law enforcement in my state are in need of assistance, though, and have not been able to get it. In July, the Montrose Police Department tragically lost Sgt. David Kinterknecht in a shooting. His sacrifice in the line of fire is a testament to the commitment of law enforcement in Colorado. Unfortunately, Montrose and some other departments in my state were rejected when they applied for the COPS Hiring Recovery Program. After the loss of Sergeant Kinterknecht, they were not only unable to add to their force, but also could not refill their ranks after this tragic death. The Montrose Police Department remains an officer short.

The story of the Montrose Police Department is just one of the many challenges faced by law enforcement as they try to protect our communities. Denver had to forego pay increases for 2010 and 2011 due to shortfalls in the city budget, for example. The city faced layoffs and our law enforcement made hard concessions in order to protect crucial jobs. Now in addition to making sacrifices in the line of duty, law enforcement is making financial sacrifices as our communities struggle to stay above water.

An increase in funding for the COPS Hiring Program would go a long way toward helping communities brace with the challenges of the current economic crisis.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I agree that we need to do all we can to help our police officers to ensure they are not walking a thin blue line. Our cops need a full team to combat violence, protect families, and fight the crime that's destroying neighborhoods. The funding provided in the stimulus went a long way toward helping put cops back on the beat. It is clear that the demand and needs of local communities are high. The Senators tireless advocacy for his State's law enforcement is much appreciated. The Senator has made his point loud and clear, and I know we will continue to hear from him on the importance of the COPS Hiring Program as we move into conference.

Mr. BENNET. I thank the Senator.

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