Senator Collins Secures $900,000 in Funding Bill to Support Equipment Purchases for Midcoast Police Departments

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, announced today that she secured $900,000 to help local law enforcement agencies in towns across the Midcoast region purchase equipment for police officers and administrative staff.  The funding was included in the draft Fiscal Year 2022 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill that has been released by the Senate Appropriations Committee.  The legislation must still be voted on by the full Senate and House. 

“Law-enforcement officers are often described as the ‘thin blue line’ that protects life, liberty, and justice,” said Senator Collins. “Ensuring that our police officers have the equipment they need is essential to keeping them safe while they protect their communities.  As the appropriations process moves forward, I will continue to champion this funding to support local police departments across the Midcoast.”

Many smaller communities do not have the resources to request federal funding independently.  If the Fiscal Year 2022 Commerce, Justice, and Science bill is enacted into law, this funding will help the Midcoast Council of Governments create a law enforcement equipment purchasing program for communities in the Midcoast region.  Equipment purchases could include technology to improve record keeping, radio system upgrades, recording and communications equipment, and electronic ticketing equipment and related software installations.

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