Big Sky Times

SENATOR CONTINUES TO LEAD THE CHARGE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND KEEP MONTANA COMMUNITIES SAFE; BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION HONORS FALLEN OFFICERS, REINFORCES UNWAVERING SUPPORT

https://youtu.be/Vw3zVumEt6Y

As part of his continued efforts to support law enforcement officers and keep Montana communities safe, U.S. Senator Jon Tester will lead a bipartisan resolution marking National Police Week and reiterating support for the men and women in law enforcement.

Tester’s resolution designates the week of May 14 through May 20, 2023, as “National Police Week,” honors 443 officers killed in the line of duty, and expresses unwavering support for law enforcement officers in the Treasure State and across the country in the pursuit of preserving safe and secure communities.

“Montana’s law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day in order to help keep our communities safe. It’s clear that our brave men and women in uniform need more resources, not less, which is why I’m pushing to bolster recruitment and retention efforts and deliver additional funding for our rural police departments,” said Tester. “I’ll always stand with Montana’s law enforcement and will keep fighting to ensure they have the resources, manpower, and tools they need to keep Montana families safe.”

A tireless advocate for Montana’s police officers and first responders, Tester has led the charge to recruit and retain law enforcement officers and keep Montana communities safe.

In April, Tester re-introduced his bipartisan Invest to Protect Act which will create a special COPS grant to support hiring and resources for local law enforcement agencies with under 200 officers. His legislation also requires that the grant application process can be completed within 30 minutes, so that small agencies without dedicated grant-writing staff can better access the funding. Tester in April also joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce his Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act— legislation that would impose economic sanctions on those engaged in the international trafficking of illicit fentanyl, precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, or other related opioids, and declare international trafficking of fentanyl as a national emergency. 

In March, Tester announced his support for the bipartisan Recruit and Retain Act, which will boost hiring and retention efforts for Montana law enforcement in understaffed departments across the state. Tester’s bill would create a schools-to-law enforcement recruitment program, expand funding from COPS Hiring Grants, and improve law enforcement recruitment. After introducing his bipartisan bill, Tester held a roundtable with southwest Montana law enforcement in Bozeman to hear their priorities on public safety funding, law enforcement staffing, combating fentanyl trafficking in Montana, and securing America’s borders.

Tester has also fought to strengthen the recruitment and retention of Tribal law enforcement officers through the introduction of his bipartisan Strengthening Tribal Law Enforcement Act, legislation which would increase the pay rates for Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Officers.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured more than $1 billion in critical funding for Tribal, local, state, and federal law enforcement and public safety programs in the 2023 government funding bill, including $662 million for the COPS program – a $50 million increase over FY22. Tester was the only member of the Montana delegation to support the FY23 funding bill.

A one-pager outlining Tester’s work to support the police can be viewed HERE.

Original source can be found here.