ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The International Association of Chiefs of Police said Monday the new federal budget slashes more than $1 billion in funding for vital law enforcement.
The IACP issued a statement calling on Congress to increase funding for programs "that state, local, tribal and university police agencies rely on to protect American communities from crime and terrorism."
President George W. Bush sent a $2.57 trillion budget request to Congress Monday morning. The proposal cuts back on 150 government programs.
"This administration talks about homeland security but then guts funding for the very programs that help secure our homeland," said Harford, Vt., Police Chief Joseph Estey, IACP president.
Based on an analysis of the proposed 2006 budget, some of the most successful programs are on the chopping block, the IACP said: The Community Oriented Policing Services Program is cut 80 percent, and the Justice Assistance Grant Program is eliminated.
The IACP is the world's oldest and largest association of law enforcement executives, with more than 19,000 members in nearly 100 countries.
