Representative Angie Craig Secures Federal Funding for Second District Law Enforcement

BURNSVILLE, MN – This week, U.S. Representative Angie Craig helped secure three-quarters of a million dollars in federal funding for the West St. Paul and South St. Paul Police Departments to address staffing shortages and increase their community policing efforts. Through the Department of Justice’s COPS Hiring grant, West St. Paul requested and will receive $250,000 to hire 2 additional police officers and South St. Paul requested and will receive $500,000 to hire 4 additional police officers. This summer, Representative Craig wrote letters and advocated in support of both West St. Paul and South St. Paul’s applications.

“Many of our police departments lack the resources needed to ensure their officers are able to do their jobs safely and effectively – and since the first day I took office, I have been focused on securing the funding needed to help with the growing needs of law enforcement in the Second District,” said Representative Craig.  “I’m proud to have worked with Chiefs Sturgeon and Wicke to obtain this funding which will give the West St. Paul and South St. Paul Police Departments the ability to expand the number of officers within their departments in support of their communities.”

“The award of $500,000 from the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to the City of South St. Paul in support of the hiring of additional police officers is a much-needed boost to our community at a time when it is needed the most. This critical funding will allow us to make a targeted investment in coordinated response to mental health challenges in our community, while at the same time investing in community oriented policing strategies that further enhance transparency and trust in our public safety mission,” said South St. Paul Police Chief Brian Wicke. “Representative Craig has been a steadfast partner in our public safety efforts, and we are grateful for her support in our application for this much needed funding.”

“Trust between the West St. Paul community and our department is the greatest tool we have in keeping our City safe. With the resources allocated to our department through the COPS Hiring Program Grant, the West St. Paul Police Department is able to hire two additional police officers,” said West St. Paul Police Chief Brian Sturgeon. “These officers will be integral in our efforts to maintain and expand trust between our staff and the residents, businesses, and visitors to our City as well as provide additional resources to respond to calls quickly and efficiently.”

In Congress, Representative Craig has made it a priority to increase support for police officers and their families and to ensure that local police departments have the funding they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. This September, Representative Craig’s bipartisanInvest to Protect Act  passed the House to provide $60 million in grants for small and mid-sized police departments – which includes every department in the Second District – to invest in training, personnel support and mental health resources. In August, Representative Craig's bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act, legislation that she helped introduce and pass after hearing the story of South St. Paul Police Sergeant Cory Slifko, was signed into law. This bill will ensure that officers can access disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder – and that families of officers who lost their lives to trauma-linked suicide can apply for the death benefits that they deserve.

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