Trone Votes to Support Local Police Departments, Build Safer Communities in Maryland
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2022
Contact: Sasha Galbreath, Sasha.Galbreath@mail.house.gov
Trone Votes to Support Local Police Departments, Build Safer Communities in Maryland
Last October, Rep. Trone joined the Frederick Police Department’s Mobile Crisis Team for a ride-along
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman David Trone (D-MD) voted to deliver new federal resources to build safer communities in Maryland. This robust package of four bills will fund Maryland police departments – providing law enforcement agencies with new tools to prevent crime and keep Marylanders safe – while bolstering training programs and strengthening mental health support.
“I was proud to cast my vote today to help make Maryland communities safer. Together, these bills will fund local police and ensure they have the tools to better serve Marylanders – all while helping to build stronger relationships between communities and the officers sworn to protect them,” said Rep. Trone. “Passed with strong bipartisan support, this package delivers deeply needed investments in local law enforcement to prevent crime, boost community violence prevention, improve substance use disorder-related response, and save lives. I remain committed to putting people over politics and building safer communities for all Marylanders.”
The public safety package consists of four bills:
- Invest to Protect Act: funding small Maryland police agencies through grants to retain and recruit officers; reduce the use of force and invest in accountability measures, including de-escalation training; improved response to substance use disorder-related calls; improved support for survivors of domestic violence; and promoting a duty of care.
- VICTIM Act: bolstering Maryland law enforcement agencies’ capacity to investigate and close cases of violent crime through new funding to:
- hire and train detectives to investigate homicides, sexual assaults, and other violent crime;
- ensure victim services are funded, staffed, and trained to address the needs of survivors and family members; and,
- acquire and upgrade investigative technology to better process evidence.
- Break the Cycle of Violence Act: building on the American Rescue Plan’s life-saving investments in effective, evidence-based community violence prevention solutions – helping community organizations and local governments:
- hire violence intervention and prevention specialists;
- offer intensive counseling, peer support and mediation services to survivors; and,
- provide culturally-responsive social services for Marylanders at the highest risk for involvement in community violence.
- Mental Health Justice Act: saving lives by supporting the deployment of unarmed mental health professionals when responding to mental health crises in Maryland communities.
Congressman Trone is a steadfast supporter of our first responders, leading effective, bipartisan legislation to deliver resources to officers suffering from work-related mental trauma. Just in the last year, two of Rep. Trone’s related bills, the COPS Counseling Act and Public Safety Officer Support Act, were signed into law by President Biden.
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the mental health and addiction crises, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
Follow Congressman Trone at @RepDavidTrone for updates on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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