John W. Olver: “last year I voted for the Crime Control Act of 1994 which promised Americans who live in fear of crime 100,000 more cops…”

“last year I voted for the Crime Control Act of 1994 which promised Americans who live in fear of crime 100,000 more cops on the beat in community policing. Already, 17,000 cops have been provided to more than 8,000 large cities and small towns. In my district alone 67 cops will make my constituents safer. Today we are debating H.R. 728 the pork block grant bill which eliminates the Community Policing Program. Community policing is not some new untried approach. It has been used in many places across the country. Putting cops on the street makes people safer. Community policing puts police on our streets who know the neighborhoods and work with residents to reduce crime. Officers who take the time to build relationships with citizens. Officers who get leads from contacts who see crime committed. Officers who understand the community's crime problems, and know the needs of the neighborhood. Community policing takes cops out from behind their desks and puts them back on the beat to prevent crime, if possible, and to punish criminals. Community policing does not simply add more police, it creates community leaders. These officers serve as role models, advisors, and assistants to the citizens they serve. In my district, the Cleghorn neighborhood in the city of Fitchburg was deteriorating because of increasing crime. A community policing program started 4 years ago in Cleghorn caused a dramatic drop in crime.”