Today, on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, I extend my deepest gratitude and respect to the law enforcement officers who diligently work to protect our communities. To many of us, they are our partners or spouses, sons or daughters, brothers or sisters, or friends. They go out in the front lines every day, sacrificing their lives to keep our families safe.
Law enforcement officers of every rank and file have dedicated their lives to a profession that puts their lives on the line every day for their communities. Across local, state, and federal levels, officers have bravely responded to a challenging and often under-appreciated call to public service. Their duties often demand long hours that them away from their families and rarely do they know what their days have in store for them. We thank our officers for patrolling our neighborhoods, streets, and highways around the clock, ensuring our safety.
Funding to keep our communities safe and providing law enforcement with the tools and resources needed was one of our priorities this past session. The state budget included $523 million to support fifty new troopers, six recruit schools, enhanced communications capacity and intelligence efforts, among other items. $10 million was appropriated for bullet resistant personal body armor. We appropriated $15 million for grants to local law enforcement agencies to establish a body-worn camera program. The budget also included $200,000 for the Peace Officer Mental Health Program; $28 million for border prosecution grants; $10.2 million in grants for local border security; and $7.9 million for the anti-gang activities, among others.
This past session, I proudly coauthored SB 22, which established a grant program to provide financial assistance to qualified sheriff, constable, and prosecutors’ offices in rural counties. Over $330 million was included in the budget for these grants, which will help increase sheriff, deputy, jailer, and prosecutor pay, hire their backups, and purchase much-needed vehicles, firearms, and safety equipment.
Join me on this Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, in thanking our law enforcement men and women for their service, dedication, and commitment to keep our communities and our families safe.
Editor's Note: The above guest column was penned by state Sen. Juan 'Chuy' Hinojosa of McAllen, Texas. The column first appeared on the author's Facebook page. Hinojosa can be reached by email via: Luis.Moreno@senate.texas.gov.
