Nevada Appeal Capitol Bureau
Saturday, March 19, 2022
Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on Thursday introduced legislation to provide small law enforcement agencies across the country with a total of $250 million over the next five years.
The funding will help those agencies invest in training, equipment, mental health support and recruitment efforts.
The legislation is also supported by Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.
Cortez Masto said local law enforcement agencies need more funding and support to keep Nevadans safe. She said the legislation will make it easier for small agencies to easily access resources.
“These small departments are the backbone of so many communities,” she said.
Grassley said during 99 county meetings local police have told him how difficult it is to recruit officers.
The so-called “Invest to Protect” act, he said, will send a clear message to those departments, “that we have their backs.”
They pointed out that over 90 percent of police departments in the country have fewer than 200 full-time officers.
