Every year in May, we observe Police Week in Nevada and across the country to honor the men and women who risk their lives each day for the safety of our communities. Our police officers know that their job puts their lives in danger, and their families know that every day when their loved one leaves for work, they may not come home. I can relate to that feeling. My husband, Paul, is a retired federal law enforcement officer. I remember several times when he was on call and would have to leave in the middle of the night. In the back of my mind, I always thought, “Is he going to come home?”
These men and women spend their days protecting our families and our communities, and they deserve recognition and respect for the important work they do.
I’ve been honored to work with Nevada’s police officers throughout my career. As Nevada’s Attorney General, I worked with police departments across the state to crack down on crime, prosecute offenders, and keep Nevadans safe. I’ve witnessed the hard work and dedication of our police officers firsthand, and I will always fight for our law enforcement in the Senate.
It’s been my priority to listen to the needs of police departments throughout Nevada, both big and small, to ensure I’m doing everything I can to get them what they need to protect our communities. That includes securing funding for more resources, improved technology, and better training for our officers.
Last year, I was proud to make sure Congress passed the biggest increase in funding for police departments in ten years. To help put an end to tragic law enforcement suicides, I introduced and passed legislation to increase data collection on suicide and support peer counseling programs that can improve police officers’ mental health.
While these investments are crucial to ensuring our officers are prepared for the job, far too many smaller police departments just can’t compete with their larger counterparts for resources. I’ve heard this from local law enforcement agencies throughout Nevada, including rural and Tribal communities. Over 90 percent of police departments nationally have fewer than 200 full-time officers.
That’s why I worked across the aisle with Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa to introduce the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act. This legislation would set aside $250 million specifically for smaller police departments, including Tribal law enforcement, to ensure they can access the resources they need to keep our families safe.
Police officers in both Northern and Southern Nevada have told me about how hard it is to do their jobs when they’re short on personnel. They’re stretched too thin, and that makes it harder for them to protect our communities and their own lives. The Invest to Protect Act will help departments in counties like Douglas and Humboldt with recruitment and retention so they have enough officers to serve their communities.
I will keep working to get this legislation passed because it’s the least Congress can do to thank our police officers for risking their lives for us every day. And I’ll continue fighting to make sure Nevada’s police have what they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.
