Peace Garden News

FARGO, N.D. – At the North Dakota Chiefs of Police Association Conference today, Senator John Hoeven highlighted the essential work of North Dakota’s law enforcement officers in responding to a range of emergencies and protecting their communities, and discussed his efforts to ensure they have the training, tools and resources they need to be safe and successful. To this end, Hoeven:

• Is working as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to ensure strong support for programs like:
  • The Regional Information Sharing Systems program, which better enables law enforcement agencies to coordinate and combat crime that occurs across multiple jurisdictions.
  • Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG), which provides a wide range of support to state and local law enforcement, including equipment and training.
  • Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), which awards grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies in an effort to reduce crime, advance public safety and combat the manufacturing and trafficking of methamphetamine and opioids.
  • Helped introduce:
    • The Assisting Narcotics and Trafficking Officers in Interdicting (ANTI) Drugs Act, bipartisan legislation to support law enforcement efforts to combat the drug epidemic and boost border security.
    • The Thin Blue Line Act to increase federal penalties for offenders who target law enforcement.

            “Our law enforcement officers put their safety and well-being on the line in order to protect our communities, and they deserve our support,” said Hoeven. “Our efforts are all about ensuring law enforcement can access the training, tools and resources they need. Importantly, we’re advancing legislation and resources that better help agencies coordinate their efforts to combat drug trafficking and better secure the border. The drug overdose epidemic and the crisis at the southern border affect every state in our nation, and through efforts like these, we’re working to make sure law enforcement personnel are successful in fighting crime and keeping people safe.”

ANTI Drugs Act

Specifically, this legislation would reauthorize and increase resources for the following programs that law enforcement rely on to keep communities safe:

• High Intensity Drug Task Forces (HIDTA).
  • HIDTA grants fund regional task forces made up of members from local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies that combat the drug epidemic in hard-hit communities.
  • The following counties in North Dakota are included in the program: Burleigh, Cass, Grand Forks, Morton, Richland, Walsh, Ward and Williams.
  • COPS Grants.
    • The bill includes language to cut red tape and ensure that smaller law enforcement agencies and those in rural communities have access to COPS grants.
    • Operation Stonegarden.
      • Operation Stonegarden provides funding to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to enhance coordination with Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol to defend America’s borders.

Original source can be found here.