Daines Statement on Helena Cutting Law Enforcement Budget

Statement

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement ahead of the Helena City Commission's work session to cut $300,000 from the Helena Police Department's personnel budget and remove School Resource Officers (SROs) from all school campuses.

"I'm deeply troubled by efforts to defund local police departments and strip vital school safety resources like SROs from our schools. These divisive actions take us further away from real reform and jeopardize the safety of both officers and the communities they serve," Daines said. "Cutting resources at a time when law enforcement is being asked to do more than ever in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is simply unconscionable. I urge the Helena City Commission and others considering similar action to reverse course."

Background:

Daines is a strong supporter of the men and women who serve in our local law enforcement and will continue working on policies that prioritizes the safety of Montana communities.

On June 30th, 2020, the Helena City Commission voted to freeze about $300,000 from the Helena Police Department budget until a July 9 public hearing on reallocating funds dedicated to SROs.

On June 19th, 2020, Daines signed on to the JUSTICE Act aimed at restoring public trust in law enforcement through greater transparency and accountability.

On June 10th, 2020, Daines sponsored a Senate resolution that condemned the tragic murder of George Floyd and opposed the radical calls across the nation to defund the police.

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