Louisville Police Chief Robert White traveled to Washington, D.C., Tuesday to urge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to push for increased funding for early care and pre-kindergarten education programs.
White and Barren County Sheriff Chris Eaton are members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a national anti-crime organization. They set up the meeting with the Kentucky Republican as part of a national campaign on how early education can be an effective strategy in reducing crime.
"We are in the midst of some very challenging financial times," White said. But he said he told McConnell that cutting programs that aim to help at-risk children is not the way to address financial challenges.
"We know for a fact that if a child is given assistance and support prior to starting kindergarten... they are far less likely to live a life of crime," White said.
White said McConnell was open to the conversation and understood the challenges law enforcement faces, but did not make a commitment to support funding for such programs.
His office issued a statement about the meeting, saying "Sen. McConnell was honored to meet with Kentucky law enforcement officials today, including Louisville Police Chief Robert White, to discuss a number of important issues. The senator appreciates the good work they're doing and looks forward to continue working with our law enforcement community on ways to reduce crime and improve public safety in a fiscally responsible way."
As part of the meeting, White and Eaton delivered a letter to McConnell signed by more than 650 law enforcement leaders from across the country that urges Congress not to cut funding to early care and education as negotiations on increasing the national debt limit continue.