Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced good news today for law enforcement priorities in Northwest Washington. Larsen was able to help secure provisions for priorities in Snohomish, Whatcom and Island counties, as well as funding for the Washington State Meth Initiative. The provisions and funding were included in the final version of a congressional spending bill for the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Departments for fiscal year 2006 (H.R. 2862). The House is set to approve the bill tomorrow morning.  

“We need to give our local law enforcement every possible tool to keep us safe,” said U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02). The priorities included in this congressional spending bill build on federal-local partnerships to keep our communities safe.”

Descriptions of the programs and funding are included below:

$1.5 Million for Law Enforcement Communications Improvements in Snohomish County

This funding will add four channels to the current emergency response system in Snohomish County.  The current radio system lacks capacity to connect all essential responders to emergency centers.  This expansion will support countywide interoperability efforts and position local governments for future growth and improved regional emergency response efforts. 

“I want to thank Senator Murray for her leadership in securing these funds,” Larsen said. 

“As we saw in recent disasters across the U.S., it is critical that local law enforcement can communicate with other agencies in a quick and effective manner,” he continued. “This project will make sure that emergency responders across Snohomish County can get and give the information they need when they need it.”

$150,000 for Island County Sheriff Technology Improvement Program

This program will help the Island County Sheriff’s office upgrade radio equipment, which will allow them to receive important fire, medical, health department and law enforcement radio traffic.  In addition, they will be able to purchase thermal image cameras, a forensic video enhancement system and other needed crime scene technology. 

“Island County is growing, and so are the needs of local law enforcement there,” Larsen said. “As meth production and other crimes increase, it is more critical than ever than Island County can improve its communications ability and technology.

$350,000 for the Whatcom County’s Multi-Jurisdictional Criminal Justice Data Integration Project

Many databases currently in use by law enforcement and justice agencies in Whatcom County were not designed to share or exchange data or case information between each other or outside justice agencies. The Multi-Jurisdictional Criminal Justice Data Integration Project is streamlining the county’s felon, misdemeanant, and corrections information databases so that law enforcement agencies and the court system in Whatcom County can find the information they need by looking at one combined source.

Larsen secured $1 million for the project in a fiscal year 2003 spending bill and $500,000 in fiscal year 2005. 

“Whatcom County is moving ahead on creating this one-stop-shop for its criminal justice system to allow for easy and quick information access in one database instead of forcing law enforcement to check several databases to determine if someone is a criminal,” Larsen said.

$2 Million for the Washington State Methamphetamine Initiative

As a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, Larsen fights each year for this important funding that will help the state continue its efforts to keep meth out of our communities. The Washington State Meth Initiative provides funding for statewide cleanup, treatment and prevention programs, training, and other law enforcement efforts to combat meth in Washington state.

 “As a Co-Chair of the House Meth Caucus, I lead the fight every year for federal funding for the Washington State Methamphetamine Initiative,” Larsen said. “The Washington State Meth Initiative stands out for its innovative and aggressive efforts to fight meth in Washington state, and I will continue to support the initiative both in Congress and at home.”

Both the House and Senate must pass the bill before it heads to the president’s desk.