Rock Island Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) requested $846,910 in the upcoming FY2024 budget for the Winnebago County police to purchase equipment that will improve officer training and retention. 

"To create safer communities, I’m working to connect police in Central and Northwestern Illinois to new funding opportunities,” said Congressman Sorensen. "The funds I requested in this year’s budget will help reduce crime and improve policing by bringing state-of-the-art training equipment to Winnebago County, preparing our officers for real-world challenges they encounter on the job.” 

“This funding will allow Winnebago County to operate a state-of-the-art police training facility that is unmatched in our region,” said Winnebago County Board Chairman Joseph Chiarelli. “Investing in the quality training of our law enforcement will not only strengthen retention, but attract new recruits. Providing this scenario-based education will result in properly trained officers who are well-equipped to serve and protect our community.” 

In addition to requesting police funding in Illinois’ 17th district, Sorensen announced that funding is available from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) that will protect officers from targeted attacks and build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. If you would like to request a letter of support for one of these grants, please contact Congressman Sorensen’s Rock Island office at (309) 786-3406. 

The following grant opportunities are now open and accepting applications: 

Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI) 

The Collaborative Reform Initiative encompasses three technical assistance programs offering expert services to state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies to support effective community policing.  This continuum of services is designed to build trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve; improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness; enhance officer safety and wellness; and develop and disseminate evidence-based, promising, and innovative public safety practices.  The 2023 CRI program offers open solicitations in two areas – Critical Response and Organizational Assessments. 

Applications are due by May 24, 2023 at 4:59 PM ET.  Please click here for more information on the 2023 Collaborative Reform Initiative solicitation. 

Community Policing Development (CPD) – De-Escalation 

CPD is a competitive grant program designed to advance the practice of community policing by providing guidance on promising practices through the development and testing of innovative strategies; building knowledge about effective practices and outcomes; and supporting new, creative approaches to preventing crime and promoting safe communities. The CPD – De-Escalation program will encompass two separate solicitations for the following purposes: 

• The continuation and expansion of regional centers for the delivery of de-escalation training (institutions of higher education are eligible to apply). 
• Direct grants to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to support training and organizational improvements on de-escalation, duty to intervene, and implicit bias.

Approximately $14.5 million is available for this program. 

Applications are due by May 24, 2023 at 4:59 PM ET.  Please click here for more information on the 2023 CPD – De-Escalation program. 

Community Policing Development (CPD) – Critical Topics 

CPD is a competitive grant program designed to advance the practice of community policing by providing guidance on promising practices through the development and testing of innovative strategies; building knowledge about effective practices and outcomes; and supporting new, creative approaches to preventing crime and promoting safe communities. The CPD – Critical Topics solicitation will focus on three categories:  

• Planning and execution of law enforcement emerging issues forums. 
• Innovations in recruitment, retention, and workforce diversification.  
• Development and delivery of tolerance, diversity, and anti-bias training.

Approximately $3.5 million is available for this program. 

Applications are due by May 24, 2023 at 4:59 PM ET.  Please click here for more information on the 2023 CPD – Critical Topics solicitation. 

COPS Blue Alert Program 

The COPS Office administers the National Blue Alert Network, a voluntary nationwide system to give authorities an early warning of threats against law enforcement and to aid in the apprehension of suspects who have killed or seriously injured an officer or deputy. The 2023 COPS Blue Alert Program seeks applications from organizations to support the COPS Office with coordinating the Blue Alert system. The primary objectives of the cooperative agreement to be funded under this solicitation are to raise awareness of the Blue Alert system through the production of an educational video and to research, gather, and compile accurate and timely information from credible sources about all reported incidents where on-duty law enforcement throughout the United States, territories, and tribal lands are shot in the line of duty.  Approximately $130,000 is available for this program. 

Applications are due by June 21, 2023 at 4:59 PM ET.  Please click here for more information on the 2023 COPS Blue Alert solicitation. 

Congressman Eric Sorensen is the first openly LGBTQ person elected to represent Illinois at the federal level and is a member of the New Democrat Coalition. He serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal. 

Original source can be found here.