NEWTON, NJ – Out on the cold plaza in front of town hall, Representative Josh Gottheimer laid out the details of his “Invest to Protect Act.” Flanked by police officers from the Town of Newton and New Jersey State Police the congressman explained his efforts to provide funding for 95% of the country’s police department; those having fewer than 200 officers.
“If you want to make something better, there’s always room for improvement, whether it’s a road or a school, you don’t get there by cutting funding. You need to make smart, targeted investments,” Gottheimer said. “You must invest not defund.”
He said they need to invest to recruit and retain the best law enforcement talent to support communities. “That’s how we protect more people,” he said.
Despite several loud voices in congress calling for defunding police departments, Gottheimer said he has not encountered any pushback from his colleagues to this proposed legislation. He said his statement about investing not defunding was “intentional.”
The bill has bipartisan support in the House, according to Gottheimer with 20 members of each party having signed on as sponsors. He said he has spoken with several Senators who have expressed interest in sponsoring the companion bill. Gottheimer said he plans to announce two Senate sponsors this weekend.
Gottheimer said the legislation was developed as a result of conversations with local law enforcement leaders and is endorsed by law enforcement organizations and unions; National Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, National Sheriffs’ Association, National Troopers Coalition, New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association, New Jersey State PBA, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.
“The point is, this is backed by folks who care about law enforcement,” he said.
Recognizing most funding goes to large police departments, this funding is targeted to the smaller departments which make up the majority of departments, according to Gottheimer.
The legislation proposes to provide $50 million for grant funding to local police departments through the Community Oriented Policing Services or COPS Office of the U.S. Department of Justice. The grants would provide funding to invest in officer safety, de-escalation and domestic violence response training and offset overtime pay for officers who are training. Funding would also support Body Worn Camera or BWC initiatives including the purchase of equipment, training and data storage.
Gottheimer also addressed the need to provide retention bonuses and funding for recruitment that would be available with the approval of this bill.
He said the money could go to mental health support for officers and training in mental health to help with community policing.
“In New Jersey we’ve lost 22 officers in the line of duty and more than 886 nationally,” Gottheimer said. Quoting New York City Mayor Eric Adams the congressman said, “I don’t subscribe to the belief of some that we can only have justice and not public safety. We can actually have them both. And I totally agree with that.”
He said this legislation highlights the ability to have both.
Newton’s Chief Steven Van Nieuwland said they would look to get money to help “cover the gap” between state and local funding for the state required BWC initiatives. He said he would use the funds help cover the costs incurred by getting officers trained. He explained officers have to be trained when they are not on duty, incurring overtime expenses.
Gottheimer said this is an issue he has been hearing about from law enforcement administrators throughout his district in Bergen, Warren and Passaic counties, not just in Sussex.
Daniel Oliveira, President of the State Troopers NCO Association supported Gottheimer in his efforts to secure resources for small police departments.
“We have to work together,” he said acknowledging the strain on local budgets to as community needs and state regulations continue to increase.
The state of New Jersey requires BWC to be operating every time an officer interacts with a member of the public. When the regulations change or are updated, it can require new equipment or training, Newton Mayor Jason Schlaffer said. Funding from this bill will help to supplement the town budget for the police department he said.
Councilman Matthew Dickson said any grant funding secured by the town for the police department would not result in a commensurate decrease in the town budget for police. Grant money would supplement the budget for local law enforcement.
Schlaffer and Councilwoman Sandra Diglio said the town is looking at “about half a dozen” officers that are eligible to retire in next year. The funding for recruitment and retention bonuses would be helpful they said.
“I want to reiterate my deep and unwavering support for all that law enforcement [officers do]. For waking up every day and putting on a bulletproof vest, kissing their husbands and wives and children goodbye and then putting your lives on the line every day to look out for us,” Gottheimer said. For that reason and so much more, we must always have the backs of our first responders and all those who serve our nation, including our veterans. We all are grateful for them; willing to put their lives on the line without great fanfare.”
Original source can be found here.
