Peters Bipartisan Legislation to Incentivize Community Policing Advances in Senate During National Police Week

WASHINGTON, DC – Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) that aims to strengthen the relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve by incentivizing recruits and officers to work in the communities where they live has advanced in the Senate. As we recognize National Police Week, Peters’ bill — that he led with U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) — was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and now moves to the full Senate. The Strong Communities Act would provide federal grants for local law enforcement recruits and officers who agree to attend school or academy and then serve in a law enforcement agency in their respective communities. Peters previously introduced the legislation last Congress.

“Trust between local law enforcement and the communities they serve is essential,” Senator Peters said. “By encouraging community policing, this bipartisan bill would help build stronger relationships between local law enforcement and the neighborhoods they serve. It would also incentivize people to serve in law enforcement in the communities they call home. Community policing can lead to better outcomes and more accountability, and I’m pleased this bill advanced in the Senate.”

“Law enforcement assigned to protect the neighborhood they’re from are able to serve that community’s specific needs from day one,” said Senator Cornyn. “I’m grateful to my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee for supporting this legislation, and I’m looking forward to seeing it pass the full Senate soon.”

“Time and time again, law enforcement leaders in Illinois and across the country have told me that some of their greatest challenges center on recruitment, retention, and public trust,” said U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Employing law enforcement officers who live in the communities they serve will help foster stronger relationships and trust between the residents and the officers—a key component in maintaining public safety and effective policing. I thank Senators Peters and Cornyn for their leadership on this critical bipartisan legislation.”

“Effective community policing bolsters public safety and builds trust between law enforcement and the people they serve,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This bipartisan legislation will support local efforts to recruit officers who understand the public safety needs of the neighborhoods that they protect because they are from those communities. Now that this bill has passed the Judiciary Committee, I’ll keep working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass it through the Senate and get it signed into law.”

“The demonization of law enforcement the last few years has resulted in a decrease of officers on our streets and left communities less safe,” said Senator Tillis. “I am doing everything I can to support our brave men and women and incentivize recruits to join the force. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on this important legislation so we can help those who want to serve their communities.”

The legislation is also supported by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

Many communities across the country are facing both a law enforcement recruitment and a trust crisis. The Strong Communities Act aims to help to facilitate improved relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. By recruiting from within the communities, these recruits will know the people they are working to protect.           

Recruits in the program would receive a grant through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program.

The grants would decrease the financial burden of education and training for recruits and officers, and in return applicants for the program would be required to serve as a full-time public safety officer for at least four years and complete their service in a local law enforcement agency located within seven  miles of their residence. Or, if the recruit or officer resides in a county with less than 150,000 residents, the recruit or officer could serve within 20 miles of their residence.

“This legislation supports the community-policing model, which is based on officers being part of the communities they police. The public will get to know and trust the officers working in their community and see them for what they are—part of their community who are there to protect and assist their fellow citizens,” said Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police.

“There has been a growing call from community leaders across the nation for police departments to hire more officers from the communities being served and who reflect the makeup of the communities in which they serve to increase community trust,” said Bill Johnson, Executive Director of the National Association of Police Organizations. “The requirement that candidates have a four-year college degree can be a hindrance to achieving that goal. The Strong Communities Act, led by Senator Peters, would help agencies remove that obstacle and aid in the recruitment of much needed community police officers.”

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