Law Enforcement Advisory Roundtable

Last month, I hosted my Law Enforcement Advisory Board at my Willmar office. This committee is made up of around ten officers from across the Seventh District and they help keep me informed of their biggest concerns. At this meeting, there was a great deal of discussion about how local forces can support ICE. In particular, they noted they are having some difficulties because oftentimes they cannot detain someone that is here illegally until someone from ICE is present. As always, this was a very productive discussion and I greatly appreciated the Advisory Board's input so that when I'm back in D.C. I can work with my colleagues to find meaningful ways to support law enforcement at home.

Protect and Serve Act

As this country works to crack down on crime, we know that means there is an increased risk for our law enforcement officers. As a Member of Congress, it is my responsibility to do what I can to protect these brave men and women and make sure they can do their jobs as safely as possible. Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in attacks on officers in recent years. That is why I cosponsored the Protect and Serve Act, which creates a new federal felony for anyone who knowingly assaults or causes bodily harm to a member of law enforcement.

This legislation would create federal penalties for anyone who targets law enforcement officers and willfully harms them in the execution of a crime. There would be a penalty of up to ten years imprisonment for someone who attacks and injures an officer, and a penalty of life in prison for someone who kills or kidnaps an officer. I am proud to be a part of a Congress who respects our law enforcement officers and wants to do everything we can do keep them safe.

Meeting the Moorhead Police Chief

In Moorhead, I met with the new Moorhead Police Chief as well as the Clay County Chief Deputy Sheriff to discuss recent high crime taking place in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Their biggest concern is handling the increasing mental health crisis in this country. For example, there is a massive shortage of beds and facilities for those facing a mental health crisis to go. This then forces the issue on law enforcement agencies, which also lack the facilities, bandwidth, and medical expertise to deal with mental health episodes. In Fargo-Moorhead alone there are twelve beds at the hospital in Fargo, but there are around sixty people coming in on a daily basis in need of treatment, and forcing these people into a jail cell rather than real treatment is not a viable option either.

I am so grateful to the officers for sharing this information with me and I will be working with my colleagues in Washington to find solutions to the tragic mental health crisis that gets people the help they need and allows officers and providers to do their jobs effectively and safely.

Suicide Prevention Month

September is Suicide Prevention Month. It is a time to raise awareness about the realities surrounding suicide and spread hope to end this tragedy. Unfortunately, law enforcement officers are at a high risk of suicide, and the numbers are increasing. There are a number of resources available to people in distress, and many that understand the specific difficulties that come with being a law enforcement officer.

- Crisis Text Line: Text BLUE to 74741 to be connected with free, 24/7 confidential Crisis Text Line services.

- COPLINE: This is a confidential, 24-hour hotline that is answered by trained retired law enforcement officers who can provide access to critical support. More information can be found at 1-800-COPLINE (276-5463) or at www.copline.org.

- 988: 988 is the federal suicide and crisis lifeline, which you can call, text, or chat 24/7. 

September 26 is National Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day, recognizing the service of officers lost to suicide. There are many ways to observe this day including learning the warning signs of suicide, hosting an event like an awareness walk, sharing your stories, or just talking to others to raise awareness. With support and understanding, we can help our loved ones know they are not alone.

Thank you for reading!

fischbach.house.gov

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