Police officers deserve our support

This week is National Police Week, a dedicated time for our nation to recognize and honor the courageous work officers do to protect our communities. For a state that is home to world-class destinations and that welcomes visitors from around the globe, the members of Nevada’s law enforcement community are critical. These brave men and women risk their lives every day to protect Nevada families, fight crime and keep our streets safe. For these reasons, Nevadans hold a particular respect and admiration for the police.

When Las Vegas went through one of its darkest moments, experiencing the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, it was local police and first responders who ran toward danger to save lives. The officers who responded to the call and put their lives on the line did so without thinking twice, because that is what they are trained to do.

It’s not only during major emergencies that police officers risk their lives. Every day they put on their uniform and leave their homes, they put their lives on the line. From a routine traffic stop to a domestic dispute, any call can turn deadly at the drop of a hat. They know the risks of the job, but their sense of service is stronger. It’s this sense of service that pushes them to do everything they can to support our local communities.

Last year, I was proud to be joined at the State of the Union by a Las Vegas Metro officer who exemplifies that effort through her exceptional community-oriented work. Officer Laura Villicana strengthened the relationship between East Las Vegas and Metro by creating the Northeast Area Command’s Hispanic Coalition. The coalition brought together community leaders and other stakeholders to share resources, learn more about the command’s work, and create trust and communication in the community. Her innovative and culturally specific events, such as “Agua Fresca With A Cop,” a fresh take on the classic “coffee with a cop,” earned Villicana recognition in the community.

As I’ve met with law enforcement across Nevada, they’ve consistently told me one of the biggest challenges they’re facing is the dire shortage of officers and support staff. Last year, Nevada State Police publicly announced it would have to reduce early-morning patrols because of staffing shortages. Police departments across our state are not only struggling to recruit new officers but also retain existing staff.

That’s why I’m doing everything I can in the Senate to support Nevada’s law enforcement agencies as they work to hire and retain more officers. I signed on to the bipartisan Recruit and Retain Act to establish a federal pipeline between local departments and schools to help facilitate recruitment activities and encourage young people to enter these careers. This bill, which passed the Senate last year, would also help cover some of the costs associated with recruitment and onboarding, making it easier to bring on new officers.

We know another factor behind this shortage is the toll that the job takes on officers’ mental health. Responding to some of the most dangerous and demanding emergencies imaginable can lead to increased stress. That’s why I’ve been working across the aisle to pass my bipartisan legislation that will help determine the best practices for identifying and treating mental health challenges among first responders, including police. It’s also why I secured millions of dollars in funding for programs to support mental wellness initiatives in local police departments. We owe it to our law enforcement community to always provide them with the resources they need and deserve.

I’ll keep working across the aisle to secure these resources. I’ve been proud to have delivered tens of millions of dollars for Nevada police departments. From funding more emergency vehicles and equipment to helping build Metro’s officer training facility, these federal dollars are coming to Nevada for a variety of critical projects for our police.

As long as I’m representing our great state in the Senate, I’ll always work across party lines to deliver for Nevada’s law enforcement. This National Police Week — and every week — I join Nevadans in thanking our police for what they do each and every day. I’m going to continue working to see that Nevada officers have access to the resources, training and recruitment support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively, and keep our communities safe.