Law enforcement agencies request more funding to help recruit and improve tech - newschannel20.com

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — Local law enforcement agencies are calling on more funding to help better protect their communities and their officers.

As the world becomes more digitally and technically advanced, It's just one of many reasons why some police agencies say funding is needed now more than ever.

The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police says law enforcement agencies will need a $759 million to meet the growing needs of things like technology, training, officer wellness and retaining officers.

IACP executive director Ed Wojcicki says funding will help agencies stay up to date with their technology needs.

"We're trying to get enough money for all the agencies in the state to have this for hardware, software and the personnel to ready make the program work," Wojcicki said.

Pleasant Plains Police Chief Mike Long says inadequate funding impacts staffing.

"When you have diminished police forces, diminished Sherriff's offices, you have smaller numbers of people to be able to respond to calls for service," Long said.

Wojcicki says the funding will help make communities safer, by getting better technology for local police departments.

"Funding for the technology will give law enforcement additional tools to do what we call hunting down the bad guys that will make our communities safer," Wojcicki said.

He also says the funding will help provide important mental health resources to police.

The funding would meet state mandates, that are imposed to keep officers up to date with training.

Law enforcement say funding will also assist with community outreach and engagement.

source: https://newschannel20.com/news/local/law-enforcement-agencies-request-more-funding-to-help-staffing-tech

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