create and help county and local law enforcement with funding for more officers and better equipment (i.e. new vests)

This petition is for getting more federal money to county and local law enforcement agencies. Most county and local law enforcement agencies especially in rural areas are understaffed and under equipped. Our department can not afford new bulletproof vests and have to use expired or out of date ones. I'm sure most local law enforcement agencies are in the same boat. Its sad that we as law enforcement are looked at as second class citizens, almost as a necessary evil. We have to carry firearms to work and wear protective gear, at least help with properly gearing your officers. It is sad that small departments like ours have four full time officers to cover approx. 1200 sq. miles and 12,000 citizens, when in reality you supposed to have one officer per 1,000 citizens.