McNerney responds to threat to law enforcement funding

Congressman Jerry McNerney, D-Stockton, sent a letter to the Department of Justice responding to the agency’s threat to withhold federal funding from the City of Stockton, and several other cities, if local law enforcement does not notify the Department of Homeland Security regarding the detainment of undocumented people, according to a press release from McNerney’s office.

In response to DOJ’s initial letter, Congressman McNerney issued the following statement:

“The City of Stockton has made significant progress combating crime, in large part due to its highly capable police department. The Stockton PD is nationally recognized for its innovative and effective approaches to reducing crime, and in order to ensure they can best serve their communities, Stockton police and other local law enforcement must be able to decide on the best strategy to combat crime without federal interference.

“The funds DOJ is threatening to withhold come from the Public Safety Partnership (PSP), which was created to help keep cities and communities safe and to improve relationships between community members and law enforcement. These grants are essential to our local law enforcement and withholding them would be counterproductive to the progress these regions have made.

“I sent a letter to the Department of Justice underscoring the benefits of this program and its role in the agency's mission. If the DOJ is truly committed to public safety through federal leadership, they will seek other opportunities to support their local law enforcement counterparts, rather than handicap them.”