Chandler, Ariz. – Chandler Councilmember Jane Poston has been reappointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) Public Safety and Crime Prevention Federal Advocacy Committee. Poston was elected to a one-year term to provide strategic direction and guidance for the committee’s federal advocacy agenda and policy priorities.
“Work on this committee is advocating for policy action that addresses issues our public safety professionals are facing in Chandler and around the country,” said Councilmember Poston. “It provides a critical touchpoint to share Chandler’s successes firsthand and pursue sensible solutions with policymakers in Congress and federal agencies.”
This past year, the NLC committee advocated for federal policies to help recruit, train and retain the next generation of public safety professionals. This included:
- making investments in public safety training facilities
- improving mental health and wellness programs for police and fire employees
- advocating for legislation to help first responders to purchase affordable housing in the communities they serve
Addressing policies related to mental health, substance use and mass shootings were additional items addressed by the committee. This included:
- equipping the nation’s 9-1-1 system to address behavioral health challenges
- supporting mental health initiatives and the use of specialized crisis response teams to respond to non-violent emergencies
- advocating for funding mechanisms and technical assistance to access addiction treatment services and reduce risks of overdose deaths
- strengthening background checks and removing obstacles for the submission of mental health records and information sharing among law enforcement
- developing emergency response plans to prevent, respond and recover from mass shootings
The use of unmanned aircraft systems has become an increasing important issue for public safety agencies as drones are used for emergency response, incident assessments and search and rescue missions. Advocacy related to this technology included:
- collaboration between federal agencies and public safety officials to develop training programs and certifications for qualified public safety operators to manage multiple drones simultaneously beyond visual line of sight
- development of drone detection and mitigation technologies to combat the use of unmanned aircraft systems in unlawful activities and interference with public safety communications systems
For more information on NLC’s federal advocacy committees, visit:www.nlc.org/advocacy/committees.
Councilmember Poston began serving on the Chandler City Council in January 2023. Her first term as a councilmember will continue through January 2027. She also serves on the Maricopa Association of Governments Transportation Policy Committee.