Hoyer Hosts Law Enforcement Roundtable on 21st Century Policing
UPPER MARLBORO, MD– This morning, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) hosted a roundtable with Fifth District law enforcement officials with a focus on President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The Task Force was created by an Executive Order in December 2014 and is part of the Obama Administration's efforts to strengthen community policing and strengthen trust among law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.
"I was pleased to host this morning's informative discussion with law enforcement officials from the Fifth District and to express gratitude for the outstanding job they're doing to ensure that law enforcement is working in close concert with local communities to build and maintain trust," said Congressman Steny Hoyer. "I've been proud to support robust funding for programs like Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the Byrne Justice Assistance grant program, and other initiatives that ensure local law enforcement has the tools necessary to fight crime and keep officers and the public safe. I will be taking insights from this roundtable back with me to Congress to keep in mind as I work with my colleagues in the Maryland delegation to ensure that county police and local police departments across our state have all the tools they need to adapt to the challenges of the 21st century and to build trust with the communities they serve."
"While we have seen a lot of partisanship in Washington over the last few years, there continues to be a strong, bipartisan consensus when it comes to funding law enforcement and programs like COPS," continued Congressman Hoyer. "I'm also pleased that our delegation has been relentless in pushing for the new headquarters of the FBI to be built in Prince George's County. If Prince George's County is chosen, I have no doubt that a benefit will be even closer ties between federal and county law enforcement, to the benefit of our local communities. I commend all the men and women who serve our communities and put their lives on the line each day to keep Marylanders safe."
Special guests at the roundtable included Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office Deborah Spenceand Senior Advisor to the Director Katherine McQuay. They spoke about recommendations from President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing and how the Obama Administration aims to help local law enforcement agencies meet today's challenges.