Silver State Times

WASHINGTON – On May 5, 2023, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation to fund law enforcement, invest in officer safety and training, and help combat law enforcement staffing shortages. The Invest to Protect Act would provide funding to support specialized officer training, allocations for body cameras, grants for officer recruitment, and resources for officers pursuing education in social work and mental health.

“When our local law enforcement officers are called to show up, there are countless situations that they could be walking into. From domestic violence to drug overdoses and mental health crises, the difficult situations that officers face require specialized training and resources to protect themselves and every one of us,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “I’m proud that this legislation brings Democrats and Republicans together to support and better prepare our local law enforcement officers to keep our communities safe.”

In October 2022, Congresswoman Lee met with UNLV Police Services to discuss how this legislation would help serve the department’s needs and help address its struggles with staffing shortages. Severe recruitment and retention difficulties have remained a concerning pattern across Nevada police departments, including the Nevada State Police, threatening their ability to improve public safety across our communities.

The Invest to Protect Act would support small law enforcement agencies with fewer than 200 full-time officers, like UNLV Police Services, with an additional $250 million to invest in training, mental health support, and recruitment and retention efforts. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

Original source can be found here.