Tester Secures More Than $2 Million to Support Local Law Enforcement, Bolster Public Safety in Northwest Montana

As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator secured funding from the FY24 government funding bill for local law enforcement in Flathead, Lake, and Glacier Counties

Continuing his efforts to support local law enforcement and bolster public safety, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $2,025,000 for local law enforcement agencies in northwest Montana. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured this funding through the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) government funding bill. The grants, which are funded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, will be delivered to Flathead, Lake, and Glacier Counties. 

“Local law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep Montana communities safe, but they can’t do that without top-notch resources to help them do their jobs safely and effectively,” Tester said. “I’ll always stand by our police, and I’m proud to have secured this funding for local law enforcement agencies in northwest Montana to upgrade the critical equipment they rely on.”

A breakdown of the funding can be found below:

• $1.315 million for Flathead County to upgrade the Flathead Emergency Communication Center’s radio system
• $300,000 for Lake County to cover the cost of two fully outfitted police cruisers and one Full Body Security Scanning System for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office
• $410,000 for Glacier County to replace four aging patrol vehicles with four fully equipped 2024, F-150 – Police Responders and replace a non-functioning electronic lock and interface system in the Glacier County Detention Facility

Tester has been Montana’s leading supporter of local law enforcement agencies and has led the charge to bolster public safety across the state. Earlier this year, following conversations with Montana law enforcement, Tester officially co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act to make sure that individuals who enter our country and commit a crime are held accountable.

In April, Tester’s FEND Off Fentanyl Act was signed into law. His bipartisan law imposes economic sanctions on those engaged in the international trafficking of illicit fentanyl, precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, or other related opioids, gives law enforcement more resources to combat fentanyl trafficking, and declares international trafficking of fentanyl as a national emergency.

Tester is leading multiple pieces of bipartisan legislation to further support Montana law enforcement. His bipartisan ANTI Drugs Act would increase funding for law enforcement to combat drug trafficking, specifically by increasing resources for three programs – High Intensity Drug Task Forces (HIDTA), Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), and Operation Stonegarden – that law enforcement rely on to keep communities safe. Tester’s bipartisan Recruit and Retain Act would boost hiring and retention efforts for Montana law enforcement in understaffed departments across the state by creating a schools-to-law enforcement recruitment program, expanding funding from COPS Hiring Grants, and improving law enforcement recruitment. And Tester’s bipartisan Invest to Protect Act would create a special COPS grant to support hiring and resources for local law enforcement agencies with under 200 officers.

Just last month, as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured key provisions in the FY25 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to support law enforcement and public safety. Among those provisions was $720 million for the Byrne JAG Program, which provided this funding; $610 million to help state and local communities fight against the epidemic of fentanyl, meth, and other illegal drugs; and $548 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).