DeLauro Meets with Police Chiefs, Discuss Law Enforcement Needs

North Haven, CT – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn. -3) met with Police Chiefs from towns in the Third Congressional District, including Chief James DiCarlo, North Haven; Chief Kevin Hale, Ansonia; and Chief James Lewis of New Haven, to discuss the funding included in the recently enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the annual appropriations bills, as well as the issues the Chiefs are facing within their communities.

"The economic crisis means state and local budgets have been stretched dangerously thin – we all know of the $1.2 billion budget shortfall in Connecticut. As the Police Chiefs expressed to me this morning, they are being asked to do more with less and as I told them, my role, as a partner and advocate in their efforts, means ensuring our first responders have the resources they need when they need them. That is why the Recovery Package Congress passed last month included critical aid to states and towns, to prevent devastating cuts to the essential services we rely on everyday," said DeLauro.

Signed into law a little over a week ago, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes $2.325 billion for law enforcement and public safety, as well as $276 million for competitive grants like the Justice Assistance grant and $1 billion for the successful Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant Program. For Connecticut, this means a total of $25.1 million in total funding.

"The federal funding from the recovery package is already beginning to flow – last week I announced $1.7 million for crime prevention efforts. We all know that cuts to law enforcement also have a devastating ripple effect on the health of a community – increased crime, lower property values, businesses close, good jobs dry up.

Specifically, the Recovery package includes the following funding for law enforcement efforts:

· $21.1 million for Byrne/JAG grants in Connecticut – to add cops, prosecutors, and probation officers; more radios and equipment; drug and gang task forces, treatment and correction programs.

· $1 billion for the COPs Hiring program nationwide, waiving the $75,000 per officer salary cap and the percent local match requirement

· $2.2 million in Violence Against Women Grants for victim services programs in the state to improve our response to violent crimes against women.

Also discussed were key local projects funded through the annual appropriations measures, such as:

o New Haven's Re-Entry Program,

o North Branford's Emergency Simulcast System,

o Department of Public Safety's Automated Fingerprint Identification System