Small & Rural Law Enforcement Executives' Association (SRLEEA)Applauds Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas's Preparedness Grants Announcement

Alexandria, VA. - U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced today $1.6 billion for the Fiscal Year 2022 preparedness grant programs. These grant programs will provide critical funding to communities across America to prevent, prepare & respond to acts of terrorism and other hazards. This funding is in addition to the $405.1 million announced last month for the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program.

While the media mainly focuses on the terrorism problems in big cities and suburban areas, most of America's communities (small, rural, and tribal) remain invisible. Domestic terror events continue to occur in rural areas, spurred on by domestic actors who have spent years preparing and are better trained and more organized than in the past. Unfortunately, our small, rural & tribal communities have a much smaller tax base to fund law enforcement personnel, training, equipment, technology, and other needed resources to plan, prepare and respond to this growing epidemic.

Sheriff William Brueggemann of Cass County, Nebraska, said it best: "Rural Law Enforcement is one of the oldest and most versatile forms of real policing in our great Nation. However, without the funds, equipment, technology, manpower, and assistance from our bigger brother and sister agencies, we cannot provide the services nor meet what our citizens want and expect from their public safety providers".

"I am glad to see the Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program and that violent domestic extremism and community preparedness are priority areas in this year's overall grant cycle. SRLEEA is grateful that Secretary Mayorkas understands the complex challenges that face our small, rural & tribal communities and the men and women in law enforcement who protect them," said SRLEEA Board Chair, Chief Jacob Molitor Meskwaki Nation Police Department.

SRLEEA continues to work with the Department of Homeland Security to support our small, rural & tribal agencies across America and assist our members in becoming involved in the national homeland security effort.

The Small & Rural Law Enforcement Executive Association (SRLEEA) is a professional organization of police executives representing small, rural & tribal agencies in the United States. The SRLEEA provides an exclusive opportunity for small, rural & tribal police chiefs, sheriffs, and law enforcement officials to advocate for, strengthen, unite, and raise the capacity of small, rural & tribal law enforcement executives and the communities they serve.

Contact: Bill Rogers, Executive Director
Small & Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association
(607) 434-1293
Brogers@SmallRural.org
www.SmallRural.org