NASHUA, NH — Today, Kelly Ayotte, candidate for Governor, released her plan to support New Hampshire law enforcement officers in their efforts to protect Granite State communities.
“New Hampshire law enforcement officers and first responders risk their lives every time they step out of their homes and go to work. They must have the resources and the backing to do their jobs safely. That means recruiting and retaining the best officers in America, fixing our broken bail system, cracking down on drug traffickers bringing poison north from Lowell and Lawrence, and protecting and supporting our officers both on and off duty. My Back the Blue Plan provides a roadmap for how I will stand alongside Granite State law enforcement every day as Governor.”
Kelly Ayotte’s “Back The Blue” Plan:
1. Recruit and Retain the Best Law Enforcement Officers in America
2. Fix Our Broken Bail System
3. Keep Officers Safe on the Job
4. Combat the Drug Crisis Flowing North from Massachusetts
5. Support Officers On and Off Duty
Plan Details:
1. Recruit and Retain the Best Law Enforcement Officers in America:
New Hampshire is still down 70 state troopers, and law enforcement agencies across the state also face recruitment challenges. To retain our top-notch officers, and recruit others like them, we must give them the robust support they deserve. As Governor, Kelly will work to fix the broken retirement system and ensure our hardworking officers receive the benefits they have earned and were promised.
2. Fix Our Broken Bail System:
The 2018 bail reform law is a failed experiment that has created a revolving door that allows violent criminals back into our communities. Our broken bail system puts officers at risk and undermines their efforts to get violent offenders off our streets. As Governor, Kelly will shut and lock the revolving door, keep dangerous criminals behind bars, and keep our officers – and our communities – safe.
3. Keep Officers Safe on the Job:
Law enforcement officers need the resources, support, and backing to do their jobs safely and protect Granite Staters. As Governor, Kelly will fight any effort to defund law enforcement and ensure we protect qualified immunity. Kelly will also work to improve communications systems between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies at the northern border to respond to the threats there.
4. Combat the Drug Crisis Flowing North from Massachusetts:
Deadly drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine pour into our state from Massachusetts, ravaging families with addiction and killing far too many young people. As Governor, Kelly will ensure law enforcement have the necessary tools to combat drugs flowing into our state from Massachusetts cities like Lowell and Lawrence, and ensure fentanyl traffickers face the toughest possible penalties.
5. Support Officers On and Off Duty:
Law enforcement officers are often the first to respond in the instance of a mental health crisis or overdose. As Governor, Kelly will ensure they have access to continuing education opportunities such as crisis intervention team training, helping them to stay safe on the job while assisting those in crisis. Support for law enforcement doesn’t end when their shift ends — Kelly will also work to increase the availability of mental health and wellness resources for our officers who deal with daily stress and trauma on the job. Critical incident stress management teams and peer to peer support initiatives have proven effective, and Kelly will continue to promote these vital resources. Kelly’s door will always be open for law enforcement officers to share their concerns, and as Governor, Kelly will use her platform to elevate our officers and the important service they provide to our state.
Last fall, the Ayotte campaign launched “Law Enforcement for Kelly”, a coalition of more than 120 New Hampshire law enforcement officers who endorse Kelly for Governor.