Magaziner, Mayor, WPD Chief Tout Invest to Protect Act

WARWICK, RI — Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02) visited Warwick Police Headquarters to announce he has co-sponsored the Invest to Protect Act, a bill to invest $50 million per year in training, recruitment, and mental health resources for small and mid-sized police departments.

The bill, led by led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), former sheriff Rep. John Rutherford (FL-5), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-4), and retired NYPD detective Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (NY-4), was introduced in the U.S. House May 11, ahead of National Police Week.

The bipartisan legislation will make critical, targeted investments in small and midsize police departments with fewer than 200 sworn officers for the recruitment, retention, mental health support, and training they need to protect themselves and their communities.

In the Senate, identical companion legislation is being introduced by Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa. If passed, almost every police department in the Second Congressional District would be eligible for funding, including Warwick, Cranston, East Greenwich, Coventry, Johnston, Burrillville, and more.

Magaziner was joined at the 99 Veterans Memorial Drive WPD HQ by Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi and Warwick Police Department Col. Bradford Connor.

Over the next five years, the Invest to Protect Act will set aside $50 million per year to:

• Invest in officer safety, de-escalation, and domestic violence response training, allowing officers to receive critical training to make them more effective at their job.
• Create grants for small departments to recruit new officers, provide retention bonuses to keep their existing officers, and fund officers’ tuition for graduate studies in mental health, public health, and social work up to $10,000.
• Allow departments to provide mental health resources for their officers.

“National Police Week is a time for us all to thank the brave members of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every single day to keep our communities safe,” said Magaziner. “I’m proud to announce my support for the Invest to Protect Act, which will deliver critical federal funding for Rhode Island police departments to ensure the safety of frontline officers and continue to keep our cities and towns secure.”

“My greatest responsibly as Mayor is ensuring public safety,” said Picozzi. “The Invest to Protect Act will go a long way to help recruit, train and retain police officers. I want to thank Congressman Magaziner for his efforts and dedication to support public safety.”

“The Invest to Protect Act that is being co-sponsored by U. S. Representative Seth Magaziner falls directly in line with our commitment to provide quality policing by recruiting the finest candidates and then providing them with up to date training in the area of officer safety, de-escalation and domestic violence response,” said Connor. “If passed, this bill would positively enhance policing for mid-size agencies like the Warwick Police Department.”

The bill is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Troopers Coalition, the New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association, the State Troopers Non-Commissioned Officers Association,  the National Sheriffs’ Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Peace Officers Research Association of California, and the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association, State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO).