Small police departments in New Jersey often have a hard time making Necessary investments in things like de-escalation and domestic violence training or recruitment for new officers they simply don't have the money well Congressman Josh gottheimer gathered with police union leaders today to Champion a bill bipartisan bill that would boost funding for those smaller police departments Ted Goldberg was there to share the details we wouldn't send our bravest firefighters into a burning building without an air tank ladder on a hose or training with how to use them why would you do the same for law enforcement Congressman Josh godheimer is taking another shot at passing a bill that would provide federal funds for smaller police departments like the one in Fort Lee the investor protect act would help provide training and resources for departments with fewer than 200 sworn officers at a time when our nation is suffering from a surge in crime coupled with many questioning their confidence in law enforcement this bill addresses both issues by providing support to police officers while building trust with our communities the funding mechanisms provided here are essential components especially for financially challenged police departments the larger agencies always have the resources can get the resources usually gets the cops grants and what's the beauty of investor protect is that it does take care of the smaller agencies this bipartisan bill uh does more to help agencies than any other Bill in Congress now involving the police this legislation is going to look to correct that so one we're grateful to Josh for identifying the problem and two we are so grateful for him to introduce this legislation this bipartisan bicameral bill will make critical investment in law enforcement in training in Recruitment and Retention of officers and in mental mental health for officers to protect our officers our families and of course our great communities godheimer's bill and his words run counter to some of his Congressional colleagues who have advocated for defunding the police or at least giving police departments less money godheimer says that's not a position he wants to take he won't make our community safer by slashing budgets and defunding departments that won't stop the violent criminals gang members and terrorists it won't stop the robberies and car thefts or help us fight hate crimes and shoplifters cutting any profession of the bone only weakens it all 10 New Jersey Democratic Representatives supported godheimer's bill when it came up for a vote last year godheimer says his bill would provide for retention bonuses for police officers who stay on the force and help fund training for a variety of calls domestic violence response training will Empower officers with new tools and tactics to connect victims Community Resources legal support and safety domestic violence calls are some of the most dangerous and lethal for law enforcement in 2020 alone New Jersey reported more than 63 thousand domestic violence offenses the only way our communities are great is if they're safe they got to be safe people need to feel safe they have to feel they can go on the streets here and go downtown and go into the stores and and be with their families and walk in the park and all that only happens with our law enforcement this bill is largely similar to a bill godheimer introduced last year and got past the House and Senate with bipartisan votes he hopes minor tweaks can get this bill past the Finish Line I worked with senators and sat down with them after I initially initially drafted it based on the feedback I got behind me we now have done all that so now we can go right to getting it passed which is what we're doing you've got a Democrat Republican in the house and the Senate that have introduced are introducing the bill simultaneously we've got unbelievable support behind us Fort Lee's police department has around 100 sworn officers Nationwide more than 94 percent of police departments have fewer than 100 of them and this bill would give them financial support in Fort Lee I'm Ted Goldberg NJ Spotlight news