Bill would direct $30.5M in grants for public safety

A bipartisan bill that would fund $30.5 million for three grant programs directed to law enforcement has passed the Colorado House and is headed to Gov. Jared Polis.

Senate Bill 145, termed by some as the ‘Fund the Police’ bill, would establish grants for multidisciplinary crime prevention and crisis intervention in high-crime areas, law enforcement recruitment and retention, and to increase the number of P.O.S.T.-certified and non-certified law enforcement officers to create greater diversity.

The bill by Sens. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, and John Cooke, R-Greeley, and Reps. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, and Perry Will, R-New Castle earned unanimous support in the Senate and was passed, 52-13, in the House.

“After the past couple years of legislation that has negatively affected law enforcement on many fronts, it is great to see legislation that is designed to help maintain safety for our citizens,” said Fort Morgan Police Chief Loren Sharp.

Colorado ranks first nationally in auto theft, fourth in recidivism and has the highest violent crime rate in 25 years.

“This bill will help with both crime prevention and recruitment and retention of police officers,” said Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, who missed the Senate vote because of family obligations but indicated his support. “It also provides money to help with the consequences from the legislature’s push to ‘Defund the Police’ by providing resources to meet those new requirements.”

Funds would be distributed in the next two fiscal years, with $15 million directed to crime prevention and $7.5 million for workforce. Not all grant funding would find its way to policing – one-third of the $15 million for crime prevention is for community-based organizations.

The workforce grant is intended to support recruitment, retention and tuition grant programs, awarding grants to law enforcement agencies to address workforce shortages, the bill summary reads. It would also address training and improving relationships between law enforcement and communities.

“While there are many issues facing law enforcement and our ability to hire, I think this is a step in helping with recruiting efforts that are sorely needed across the state,” Sharp said. “Very low staffing levels have been seen by nearly every law enforcement agency throughout the country and Colorado has been no exception. This bill may be a step in helping restore normalcy in many departments.”

The executive director of the Department of Public Safety will be required to establish policies and procedures and create advisory committees consisting of diverse members to review applications and make recommendations on those that should receive grants and the amount of the grants, the bill summary reads. The bill would cause the expansion of 7.8 full-time equivalent jobs in the first year and 8.5 in the second year.

Local governments and law enforcement agencies may apply for grants from the programs. The bill would take effect upon the signature of the governor.