Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is renewing his support for the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act of 2025, legislation aimed at bolstering training and resources for small to mid-sized, including Tribal, police departments. According to a press release from his office, the bill focuses on recruitment, retention, and enhancing the capabilities of officers to adequately manage violent crime, substance trafficking, and other pressing threats.
Highlighting the distinct challenges faced by these departments, Senator Gallego emphasized, "Arizona’s smaller and Tribal police departments often don’t have the luxury of massive budgets or endless backup, but their officers still show up everyday to keep our communities safe." He believes that, through the Invest to Protect Act, local law enforcement can better respond to the demands of their roles and provide improved community safety. Joe Clure, Executive Director of the Arizona Police Association, pointed to the rural agencies' need for the bill, stating it would provide "much needed training and resources" and address recruitment and retention difficulties, according to a statement from Sen. Gallego's office.
The Act outlines several initiatives designed to support police departments with smaller forces. These include investments in officer safety, de-escalation, and domestic violence response training, along with the establishment of grants to recruit new officers. It also proposes retention bonuses and funding for officers' tuition in areas critical to policing, such as mental health, public health, and social work. Furthermore, the Act seeks to provide mental health resources for officers.
Given that over 94% of U.S. local police departments feature fewer than 100 sworn officers, the potential impact of the legislation is significant. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) reintroduced the bipartisan bill, garnering endorsements from a range of law enforcement organizations such as the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO).
