Supporting Law Enforcement

Local law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect and serve their communities – oftentimes working on strained budgets without the equipment and training they need to reduce crime and keep Minnesotans safe. I'm pleased to help lead legislation to ensure our smaller and mid-size police departments have the resources necessary to do their jobs safely and effectively.

That's why I have worked hand-in-hand with local law enforcement leaders to draft and submit applications for federal grant dollars to support hiring, equipment and technology programs – including police departments in South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Burnsville and Inver Grove Heights. Earlier this year, I was proud to secure $170,000 for the Dakota County Sheriff's Department to purchase additional body-worn cameras. And it's why I introduced the Invest to Protect Act, a bipartisan bill to provide $50 million in grants for small and mid-sized police departments to invest in training, equipment, personnel support, and mental health resources. And, after hearing the story of Farmington resident Katie Slifko, I introduced the bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act, which would allow officers to access disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health challenges that arise as a result of their service in the line of duty – and expand the program to ensure that families of officers who lost their lives to trauma-linked suicide can apply for the death benefits that they deserve. This is in honor of her husband Cory, a South St. Paul police officer who died by suicide.

I believe that our country needs both a more just law enforcement system and our valued police officers to truly keep our communities safe. Like most Minnesotans, I believe that we can accomplish both of those goals if we set politics aside and work together – and that's exactly what I've done in Washington and in Minnesota.