Pappas Introduces Legislation to Help Small Police Departments Strengthen Community-Oriented Policing

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced legislation establishing a new grant program at the Department of Justice. The Establishing Accreditation Grants for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Act will authorize $10 million in funding for small and mid-sized police departments to earn or renew accreditation from state, regional, tribal or national police accreditation organizations, such as the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).This bill will help police departments update their standards and best practices to strengthen accountability, enhance community trust, and improve operational effectiveness.

Only a small fraction of police departments nationwide are accredited, in part because the process can be costly, a challenge that will grow as local governments confront mounting budget shortfalls brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response, the EAGLE Act establishes a grant program that small and mid-sized police departments (those with fewer than 350 employees) can utilize to pay for the process of earning accreditation. The bill is the product of a series of conversations in recent weeks between Congressman Pappas, New Hampshire law enforcement officials, and reform advocates around the pressing issue of police reform. All New Hampshire municipal police departments would qualify for these funds.

"Local New Hampshire police departments that have pursued accreditation know that it helps build professionalism, improve culture, and emphasize accountability and community involvement. Unfortunately, many departments lack the resources to take on this process," said Congressman Pappas. "This bill will help our local police departments improve training, raise standards, and implement best practices to better serve the communities they have dedicated their careers to protecting."