Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) joined hundreds of residents at the City of Bell Gardens’ National Night Out event to promote the city’s community-police partnership to prevent crime and drug use. Pictured in the photo from left to right: Captain Robert E. Barnes from the Bell Gardens Police Department, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard and Bell Gardens Mayor Priscilla Flores.
America’s National Night Out Against Crime is a national campaign started in 1983 to heighten crime and drug prevention through local police department and community partnerships that involve residents, community-based organizations and local businesses working together. As local co-sponsors of the national event, the City of Bell Gardens and the Bell Gardens Police Department hosted a gathering at Ford Park that included a variety of games, music, and more than 40 informational booths from local businesses and community organizations.
During her remarks, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard stated that she and her Congressional colleagues are continuing to champion crime-fighting initiatives for communities across America, noting that this year Congress is working to pass a Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce Justice Science appropriations bill to increase funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program by $251.5 million over last year. This funding will go toward assisting state and local law enforcement agencies through grants, training, and technical assistance to prevent and combat crime.
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard also announced the recent award of $927,285 to the Bell Gardens Police Department to hire additional officers through the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS Hiring Recovery Program.
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard thanked the Bell Gardens Police Department, Mayor Priscilla Flores and City Councilmembers for organizing a successful event. The congresswoman also thanked residents for participating and encouraged them to support their local police department, firefighters, and first responders throughout the year to continue their partnership toward a safer and stronger community.
