Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced last week that he helped secure important victories for the state that bolster public safety while also enhancing Ohio law enforcement under a recently approved Senate appropriations package.
“One of the most important roles of government is keeping individuals and families safe,” Brown said. “These key investments will improve public safety for Ohioans while also allowing law enforcement officers, who put their lives on the line daily, to better and more safely serve their communities.”
Brown helped secure $27.5 million for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program, a program through the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP), providing funding for local and state law enforcement to acquire bulletproof vests for officers.
Brown was also instrumental in seeking funding for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program.
Other appropriations Brown helped secure, officials said, include $335 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program, which invests in local law enforcement by helping police departments bolster their community policing efforts and hire new officers; $545 million for Byrne Jag, which provides grant funding for local law enforcement agencies to fund various programs including, drug treatment and enforcement programs, crime prevention and education programs and crime; and $22.5 million for the Body-Worn Camera Partnership Program.
Authorities said body cameras reduce the use of force by officers by as much as 60 percent, reduce citizen complaints by as much as 88 percent, assist in resolving complaints against the police and reduce the likelihood of false claims against the police.