WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police supports the provisions of quality training and technical support for small and rural law enforcement agencies nationwide, and

WHEREAS, many of the law enforcement officials from rural and suburban areas request assistance in technical training, management training, and informational services, and

WHEREAS, the majority of existing state and federal programs are too often costly for small and rural agencies and are generally designed to serve larger law enforcement agencies, and

WHEREAS, approximately one third of all Americans live in rural areas and 90% of all law enforcement agencies serve populations of less than 25,000 residents and 75% of all law enforcement agencies serve populations of fewer than 10,000 residents, and

WHEREAS, rural crime has increased 53% from the years 1983 to 1997, and

WHEREAS, rural and suburban law enforcement agencies have staffing and financial limitations which make it difficult to properly train and/or address the specific crime-related issues facing their communities and law enforcement administrators; now therefore be it

RESOLVED that the International Association of Chiefs of Police supports the provisions of no-cost or low-cost training, technical support, and management assistance for small and rural law enforcement agencies on an ongoing basis, and endorse this philosophy as a continuing strategic intent of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.