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Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar announced the inclusion of over $2.5 million in federal funding for two El Paso projects to support police accountability and improve crisis intervention in the Fiscal Year 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Appropriations bill.

Specifically, the Committee approved $525,000 in federal funding for the El Paso Police Department (EPPD) Body-Worn Camera program, and $2,015,185 to fund the El Paso County Crisis Intervention Team.

The El Paso Police Department Body-Worn Camera program would establish a body-worn camera program for EPPD to promote transparency and accountability and improve law enforcement legitimacy.

The El Paso County Crisis Intervention Team would provide safer and more effective responses to dynamic law enforcement incidents involving persons in suspected mental health crisis and situations involving persons with a diagnosed or suspected mental illness and/or intellectual disabilities. The new team would consist of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (SO) and Emergence Health Network (EHN).

“Ensuring our local governments have federal support as they seek to improve police practices and increase transparency and accountability is a top priority for me,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “I am proud to have secured funding for the EPPD Body-Worn Camera program, which would promote officers’ safety and better transparency, and the El Paso County Crisis Intervention Team, which would revolutionize our community’s response to mental health crisis situations. These two projects – along with the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act – are critical steps in our journey to reimagine public safety and reform policing in El Paso.”

“This funding will allow the El Paso Police Department to establish the body-worn camera program, which has successfully shown nationwide is an effective tool in law enforcement,” said El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser. “It will facilitate case resolution and enhance police department training efforts, which will lead to an even better prepared police force. Congresswoman Escobar understands the importance of this effort and we are grateful for her tireless efforts on this front and many others on behalf of our City.”

“The creation of the Crisis Intervention Team will be a valuable resource to El Paso County as we work to safely and effectively provide assistance during mental health crisis situations,” said El Paso County Judge Ricardo A. Samaniego. “The CIT program will surely address the delayed mental health treatment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which has had detrimental impacts to the wellbeing of many in our community. I’m grateful to the Sheriff’s Office and Emergence Health Network for their commitment to ensure the safety and health of our citizens, as well as the Congresswoman Escobar’s efforts to support this critical program.” 

The FY22 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Appropriations bill is expected to advance to the floor for a vote by the full U.S. House of Representatives this summer. The legislation must pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by President Joe Biden before funds can be distributed.

More information about the Community Project Funding requests to the Appropriations Committee and Congresswoman Escobar submitted requests can be found here.