As a member of Congress and a former sheriff, I have an intimate understanding of the ongoing challenges facing American law enforcement at every level.
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 148 law enforcement officers at the local, state, and federal levels died in the line of duty in 2024. In addition, law enforcement agencies across the country continue to experience an increase in retirements and resignations, as well as significant challenges in recruiting qualified officers.
On top of that, the stressful nature of law enforcement makes law enforcement officers more susceptible to mental health issues.
Expanding and enhancing officer safety and wellness and community education programs are key to addressing these issues.
You might be wondering what Congress can do to address the persistent challenges facing our nation’s law enforcement. One thing we can and should do is invest federal dollars in programs that have a proven track record of effectively promoting officer safety and wellness, and enhancing community engagement with law enforcement. Fortunately, this kind of programming already exists.
Working through the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C., the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has developed an impressive array of programs designed to promote officer safety and wellness and bring law enforcement officers closer to the communities they serve.
Congress created both the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the National Law Enforcement Museum to honor and support the law enforcement community and educate the public about the vital importance of law enforcement in a democratic society. In addition, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is the only national law enforcement organization created by Congress, and both the Memorial and the Museum were built with private dollars.
Unlike other museums created by Congress, the National Law Enforcement Museum receives zero federal dollars for its programming. The life-saving and educational programs of the National Law Enforcement Museum are just as crucial to the nation as other museums that receive federal support.
If Congress can provide annual funding through the U.S. Department of Interior to museums that focus on issues such as building design, Asian art, American folklife, tropical research and biodiversity, then certainly Congress must and should provide annual funding for programs that promote officer safety and wellness and positively engage the public with law enforcement.
That’s why earlier this year, I reintroduced legislation, the bipartisan National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act. This bill currently has more than 80 co-sponsors, and would establish within the Department of Interior a formal program whereby the secretary of the Interior would provide annual support to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to support and enhance the community outreach, public education and officer safety and wellness programs of the National Law Enforcement Museum.
The National Law Enforcement Museum is uniquely qualified and positioned to fulfill the vital mission of educating the public about the key role played by law enforcement in our democracy, strengthening the bond between communities and law enforcement, promoting officer safety and wellness, and promoting quality scholarship on law enforcement history.
It is my sincere hope that this bipartisan bill will move forward in Congress and be signed into law as soon as possible.
Troy E. Nehls represents the 22nd District of Texas and is a member of the Judiciary Committee.
