May 15, 2007

Ellsworth Voices Continued Support for C.O.P.S Improvement Act

Bill Would Put 50,000 New Cops on America's Streets

WASHINGTON - Continuing his career-long commitment to protecting Indiana communities, Rep. Brad Ellsworth today voiced his support for a bill to put 50,000 more police officers on streets throughout the country. The House is considering the C.O.P.S Improvement Act today.

Created in 1994 to increase the number of law enforcement officers in communities, the C.O.P.S program has since provided $9 billion to hire an additional 117,000 officers nationwide. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study between 1998 and 2000 found the program was responsible for reducing crimes by over 200,000 incidences during that period.   

"The numbers speak for themselves," said Ellsworth, the former Vanderburgh County Sheriff. "The COPS program has a track record of proven success in putting more cops on our streets and reducing crime in our communities."

The C.O.P.S Improvement Act would provide an estimated $1,904,000 to the 8^th District in grant funding, as well as additional resources for programs to reduce and prevent the manufacturing, distribution and use of methamphetamines. According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, of the top 10 counties with the most methamphetamine labs seized in 2006, five are found in the 8^th District.   

"For too long, local law enforcement has been calling for back-up in the war on meth," said Ellsworth. "Congress is responding to that call today by providing them with the resources and manpower they need to keep our communities safe. This bill does exactly that, and I'm proud to support it."

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