White House allocates additional $334 million to boost community policing

WASHINGTON D.C.: To support community-based policing services, improve school safety, and help attract over 1,730 new police officers, this week, the White House allocated US$334 million in new grants for state and local law enforcement agencies.

White House and Justice Department officials said that the new funds will bring total investments in community safety to $5.6 billion in the 2023 fiscal year.

The move is aimed at restoring trust in police and reducing the violent crime rate.

During the 2024 presidential election, when Democrat President Joe Biden is likely to face Republican former President Donald Trump, crime and funding for the police are likely to be major issues.

According to a report released by the FBI last month, rates of violent crimes, including rape and murder, dropped in the U.S. in 2022 from the previous year, but property crime and aggravated assault increased.

White House Domestic Policy Council Director Neera Tanden said, “These new grants are vital to ensuring that communities have what they need to hire much-needed officers, make our schools safer, fight violent crime, and continue to advance community policing nationwide.”