Awards Funding to Virginia Beach Police Department, Supports Pro-Police Legislation

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA: Yesterday, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) visited the Virginia Beach Police Department Creeds Training Facility in honor of National Police Week. During the visit, she presented the police department with a check for $693,000 in federal funding she secured as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024. 

“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect us and our families,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “It’s only right to support them as they work to keep our communities safe. I am proud to have secured nearly $700,000 in federal funding for the Virginia Beach Police Department this past year to improve and expand their advanced training facilities. I am proud to back the blue in Congress and will continue to do everything I can to ensure our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to serve our community with courage, dedication, and strength!”

“The Virginia Beach Police Department thanks Congresswoman Kiggans and her staff for supporting world-class training for our officers, as well as law enforcement and military personnel across the region,” said Paul Neudigate, Chief of the Virginia Beach Police Department. “We’re fortunate to have a unique facility like this to provide elite training, which prepares our officers and military personnel for protecting both our community and our country.  We’re very appreciative of Congresswoman Kiggans and the federal support we’ve received in renovating this facility so we can realize its full potential.”

“We thank Congresswoman Kiggans for her hard work in obtaining the needed funds for the Creeds Training Center,” said Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer. “This critical training facility serves the Virginia Beach Police Department and our U.S. Military forces at a critical time in both our city and nation’s security. The needs and demands for community policing and military readiness training are constantly evolving, so it is vital to be able to provide the funding needed to keep pace. Because of Congresswoman Kiggans dedicated efforts and leadership to obtain funding for this program, she has helped us continue to ensure the security of our localities and region – now and for years to come.”

Specifically, the Congresswoman secured $693,000 in federal funding for the Virginia Beach Police Department to repair and/or construct buildings in the Virginia Beach Police Department’s Creeds Training Facility. This funding will support a separate, new “simmunition” training structure, complete with a classroom and defensive tactics training mat room, allowing for the expansion of advanced training evolutions and preventing the overuse and deterioration of existing structures. 

Congresswoman Kiggans is a staunch advocate for members of the law enforcement community, and has cosponsored several pieces of legislation to protect police officers, including:

• H.R. 355, Back the Blue Act, which would establish new criminal offenses for killing, assaulting, and fleeing to avoid prosecution for killing a judge, law enforcement officer, or public safety officer.
• H.R. 743, Protect and Serve Act, legislation to create a new criminal offense for knowingly assaulting a law enforcement officer and causing serious bodily injury (or attempting to do so) in circumstances that affect interstate commerce.
• H.Con.Res. 4, Law Enforcement Support Resolution, a resolution that expresses unwavering support for our nation’s law enforcement and condemns calls to defund the police.

Additionally, Congresswoman Kiggans has voted in favor of multiple bills on the House Floor to protect and memorialize our police officers, including:

·       H.Res. 363, which memorializes law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

·       H.R. 2494, the POLICE Act, which makes assault on a police officer a deportable offense for non-citizens, and

·       H.Con.Res. 40, which recognizes local law enforcement officers and condemns calls to defund or abolish the police.

·       H.J.Res. 42, which if enacted would have nullified the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, enacted by the Council of the District of Columbia.

 A photo of the visit to the Virginia Beach Police Department Creeds Training Facility is attached.

###