FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
October 20, 2008 Jordan Karp, 315-733-1400
ARCURI ENDORSED BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
UTICA, NY – The Northeast Police Conference today endorsed U.S. Representative Michael A. Arcuri (D-Utica) in his bid for re-election citing his sustained support for local law enforcement, including vital funding increases for the Community Oriented Policing Program (COPS) and legislation to fight gang violence in our communities.
"As a former District Attorney, I know just how important it is to give local law enforcement the tools they need to deter crime and drug use and help neighborhoods get back on their feet," Arcuri said. "I sponsored critical legislation to help our communities fight gangs. I have also fought to increase funding for the COPS program and Weed and Seed grants. These programs are important because crime is cyclical – simply because we have managed to contain it and reduce it for the present does not mean it goes away forever."
In his first year in office, Arcuri guided legislation through the House which included $725 million for the Community Oriented Policing (COPS) Program. Since 1994, the COPS program has allowed police departments in the 24th congressional district to hire an additional 201 police officers and/or sheriff's deputies through $15,180,133 in grants. The bill also contained critical increases in funding for the Weed and Seed program. Arcuri cosponsored the bipartisan COPS Reauthorization Act, passed by the House of Representatives.
To help local communities combat gang violence, Arcuri sponsored the Providing Electronic Resources and Prosecutors Act (H.R. 3568), which would reduce violent crime through federal grants to hire additional prosecutors and upgrade crime fighting technology. H.R. 3568 was included in the Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act, which would increase and improve law enforcement resources committed to the investigation and prosecution of violent gangs.
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