1st District State Senator Andre Jacque recently co-sponsored a set of bills that called for more funding to help recruit more police officers, which may have influenced Governor Tony Evers to change his stance on the subject.
Evers announced yesterday that he is releasing $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for law enforcement support, with $1 million going the Technical College System Board to establish at least two part-time law enforcement academy programs across the state.
This action essentially enacts Assembly Bill 836, which the De Pere senator’s name is on, but several other bills of his could also be affected, namely Assembly Bills 777, 831, and 832.
Another potential reason for the change in stance could be the statements made by President Joe Biden during his State of the Union Address.
The president stated, “We should all agree: The answer is not to defund the police. The answer is to fund the police. Fund them with resources and training they need to protect our communities.”
Sen. Jacque responded to the funding by saying, “I’m glad he finally received the message sent to him by the State Legislature and the President.”
