Law enforcement asks House for more money, resources

“One huge challenge we face as sheriffs [is] outdated and aging jail infrastructure,” he will say, according to prepared remarks. “It’s mostly taboo to speak about the need for more or new jails as poll after poll has shown that the public is not supportive of funding new jails, but the reality is that we must.”

According to McDonnell, who was elected in 2014, facilities in California and nationwide are not equipped to deal with the current criminal justice system. McDonnell added that “law enforcement has continually been tasked to do more with less.”

“Cost implications coupled with a heightened security environment is simply unsustainable. In an era of deep budget cuts and lack of federal funding, state and local law enforcement does not have the necessary funds, and most recently access to necessary lifesaving equipment,” he said.

Alonzo Thompson, chief of the Spartanburg Police Department in South Carolina, will echo those budgetary worries.

“In a climate where government bodies are plagued with lingering economic woes and are forced to make very difficult choices about their budgets, most police departments are underfunded,” Thompson said in his testimony. “Additional funding from governmental sources will be needed not only for equipment but for training that enhances the diversity consciousness of law enforcement professionals such as implicit bias, de-escalation, use of force and other subject matters deemed necessary.”

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo will also stress the importance of federal grant funding, especially from Justice Department grants like the Community Oriented Policing Services and Justice Assistant Grants.

Those grants, however, are under scrutiny from Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has threatened to pull them should a city or jurisdiction not cooperate with federal immigration law.