Congresswoman Claudia Tenney Meets with Local Law Enforcement for Roundtable Discussion

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today met with law enforcement officers from across the Southern Tier for a roundtable discussion on public safety and priorities for reform. Tenney also discussed her Plan to Support Law Enforcement, which includes priority legislation to increase community policing initiatives, increase penalties for those who target law enforcement, and protect qualified immunity.

Tenney was joined by Endicott Police Chief Patrick Garey, Johnson City Police Chief Brett Dodge, Johnson City Police Officer Edward O'Hara, Binghamton PBA President David Bidwell, Broome County Sheriff's Office Captain Kathleen Newcomb, and Binghamton Patrolman John Hlavacek.

"It was a tremendous honor to join law enforcement officers from across the Southern Tier today to thank them for their service and discuss constructive steps we can take to improve the safety of our communities. Calls to defund the police, end qualified immunity, and reduce resources for law enforcement will make our communities less safe. The law enforcement officers I spoke with today were clear that they need more resources to invest in training, implement effective community-based policing initiatives, and address the large number of individuals with mental health illnesses and addiction they encounter each day. I'm continuing the fight in Congress to deliver the support they so vitally need."

Tenney's plan to Back the Blue includes legislation to keep illegal firearms off the streets and out the hands of dangerous criminals by improving the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.. Additionally, Tenney is a cosponsor of the H.R. 677, the JUSTICE Act, which provides funding for body cameras and grants to police departments that implement community policing best practices. Tenney has also cosponsored H.R. 288, the Qualified Immunity Act to codify the defense of qualified immunity for law enforcement officers.

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