WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after submitting a programmatic appropriations request to the House Appropriations Committee encouraging support for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs:
Today, Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after submitting a programmatic appropriations request to the House Appropriations Committee encouraging support for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs:
“Now more than ever local law enforcement needs our support. The Byrne Jag and COPS programs ensure departments throughout the country have the necessary tools, resources and personnel to accomplish their missions and protect our neighborhoods. Local law enforcement agencies know our communities best and should never be forced into the difficult decision of picking between operational readiness and having officers on the beat.”
Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot released the following statement after learning of Congressman Gosar’s submission in support of the Byrne JAG and COPS programs:
“I would like to thank Congressman Gosar and his colleagues for their continued support of programs critical to Arizona. The mission of the Byrne Justice Grants meets our community needs. This important program is the only funding source our multi-agency task force receives along the Southwest Border due to the limitations and restrictions on other grants available in our geographic area.
“As the Sheriff of Yuma County, I have seen all too often in my career instances where bureaucrats, policy makers and other community planners failed to include local officials, tribal partners and residents in the process. Local law enforcement knows the environment, understands the unique challenges and can best maximize these scarce resources.”
Background:
The full text of the appropriations language submission can be read by clicking HERE.
Congressman Gosar and 172 bipartisan members submitted this request.
In fiscal year 2015, Congressman Gosar passed an amendment that cut wasteful spending and redirected $4.5 million to the Byrne-JAG grant program in order to bolster law enforcement efforts nationwide. Click HERE to read more.
Since their inception, the Byrne JAG and COPS programs have provided critical resources to local law enforcement for operations, information sharing, DNA analysis and cold case units, school violence prevention programs and many other purposes.
Nearly every county in Arizona’s fourth Congressional district has benefited from these programs. The COPS program alone has funded 2,684 law enforcement activities in Arizona.
Congressman Gosar has led multiple initiatives to ensure local law enforcement officers have the resources they need to accomplish their missions including leading the charge in support of the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP). SCAAP is a grant program that reimburses states and local governments for the cost of incarcerating undocumented illegal immigrants convicted of crimes. Click HERE to read more.
