Critical bills will help law enforcement protect North Carolina’s communities
By Rep. Chris Humphrey
Increased crime in recent years has brought safety concerns to the forefront of many American’s minds. This is particularly true in our home state of North Carolina, where crime has been on the rise. For example, in Asheville, violent crime increased by 17.4 percent and aggravated assault increased by 21.8 percent from 2021 to 2022.
Now more than ever, Americans rely on law enforcement to keep everyone safe. Despite calls to defund the police, decreased support for vital public safety resources is not the solution. Rather, these calls are radically irresponsible campaigns that distract from the truth. More funding and more support are needed for law enforcement, not less. However, as I know firsthand, investment in the prevention and de-escalation of criminal instances is especially complex in today’s world and is all the more reason why it must be done right.
As a national issue, this requires a national response. In Congress, members need to work on a bipartisan basis to increase public safety. One of the main actions lawmakers can take to help protect all Americans is to provide the necessary resources, materials, and training to those who uphold the law. Thankfully, recent proposals are gaining traction to do just that by allocating more resources to de-escalation training, equipping law enforcement with trauma kits, and incorporating data-based approaches as methods to reduce violent crime.
Senator Thom Tillis’ bipartisan legislation recently passed unanimously in the Senate to reauthorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program. This program brings together officials from all levels of government to identify and address the most pressing violent crime problems in communities using a data-based approach. In 2022, a Department of Justice study found this critical program to be associated with a 24.4 percent reduction in overall crime and a 24 percent reduction in the rate of crimes involving the misuse of firearms within the treatment group. The Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2023 extends the program through 2028 with current appropriations levels and strengthened evidence-based initiatives.
It’s not just about making sure we know where crime escalates to help prevent or decrease occurrences, but it is also about ensuring our law enforcement is equipped with the best resources available to keep our communities safe. Another bipartisan bill, the American Law Enforcement Sustaining Aid and Vital Emergency Resources (SAVER) Act, has been introduced by Senator Tillis to provide officers with high-quality trauma kits for civilians or other officers who are injured in a crime. Simply put, this legislation is bipartisan, commonsense, and will save lives simply by upgrading the tools available to law enforcement agents.
Senator Tillis also introduced another piece of legislation to support law enforcement as they protect public safety in North Carolina and across the country. Senator Tillis’ bill, the Law Enforcement Scenario-Based Training for Safety and De-Escalation Act of 2023, would authorize the creation of immersive, real-life scenario-based training to improve relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve. As the Department of Justice has emphasized, police-community trust is a vital component of a safe living and working environment. This legislation invests in law enforcement officers at all levels and ensures that they have access to the training necessary to address the most important issues while maintaining strong community ties.
These bills exemplify how bipartisan solutions can work to keep our communities safe. In a moment where political tensions seem high, one thing we should all agree on is the support of law enforcement as they fight back against rising crime and violence. While it’s common these days to demonize police for political gain, decreasing investment in law enforcement only sets up police and their communities to fail. However, true leaders know the sacrifices these heroes make to protect and serve. Senator Tillis’ efforts are leading the way to support the programs that allow law enforcement to succeed. North Carolina’s communities will be better off for it.
Chris Humphrey is a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 12. He is in his third term and is in the insurance business
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