Davids Announces Federal Grants to Hire Officers, Improve Mental Health Services for Law Enforcement

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded two grants to support law enforcement in Kansas’ Third District and throughout the state. The awards, totaling nearly $700,000, will help hire four additional police officers and improve access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement professionals in Kansas’ Third District.

"By hiring additional officers and improving mental health services, these new federal awards will help our local law enforcement do their jobs better and safer," said Davids. "My mom is an army veteran who served in law enforcement for a time herself. I am grateful for our local law enforcement professionals and will continue working to ensure they have the resources and support needed to keep our communities safe."

The grants announced today were received through two DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) awards that will positively impact public safety in Kansas' Third District. They include:

• COPS Hiring Program (CHP)
  • City of Olathe - $500,000
  • To hire four entry-level law enforcement officers to create and preserve jobs and increase crime prevention efforts.
• Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Implementation Projects (LEMHWA)
  • Executive Office of Kansas - $198,641
  • To improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, and peer mentoring and wellness programs.

“The Olathe Police Department is honored to be a recipient of the 2023 US DOJ COPS Hiring Program grant,” said Mike Butaud, Chief of Police, Olathe Police Department. “This grant will help the Olathe Advanced Crisis-Intervention Team add four new officers which will allow the unit to expand our response to behavioral health crisis calls for service. This addition to the team will also better connect citizens with resources and help them navigate the justice system when needed so the participants can maintain success and thrive within the community.”

“We are extremely grateful for Representative Davids’ support of our application for the LEMHWA grant,” said Tony Mattivi, Director, Kansas Bureau of Investigation. “This investment will greatly improve the availability of critical wellness services for KBI employees and their families.”

Since taking office, Davids has made it a priority to work with both Republicans and Democrats to ensure Kansas is always a safe place to live, work, and raise a family. These latest federal investments build on the more than $27 million in federal public safety grant funds that Davids helped secure to hire more local police officers, prevent crime, and get criminals off streets.

Davids has also secured funding for the Olathe Police Department’s Mobile Command Unit and announced federal resources to hire additional law enforcement officers in Wyandotte County. She previously voted for historic, bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation to keep Kansans safe and a bill giving officers access to disability benefits for job-related PTSD. Most recently, she went on a ride-along with an Overland Park law enforcement officer and participated in trainings at the Johnson County Regional Police Academy.

Federal funding for this grant was authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which Davids voted to support in 2022. Davids and Senator Jerry Moran were the only two members of Kansas’ congressional delegation to support this funding.