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Rakhi Israni pledges stronger public safety policy
Rakhi Israni says public safety requires stronger community policing, mental health crisis response and local trust.
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Staff Reporter - Mon, 25, May 2026
- 18:35 EDT
- 24
Rakhi Israni / Courtesy: X/@RakhiIsraniCA
Washington: Rakhi Israni, running for Congress from California’s 14th Congressional District, said restoring public safety requires increased support for local law enforcement, stronger community policing programs, and expanded mental health crisis response systems.
Arguing that residents should feel secure in their neighborhoods and workplaces, Israni said many communities are experiencing a growing sense of insecurity as local agencies struggle with limited staffing and resources.
Also Read: Rakhi Israni prioritizes youth mental health in CD-14
“Public safety should be the most basic function of our government. Unfortunately, now we see that law enforcement is really being asked to do more with fewer resources,” Israni, who is contesting as a Democrat, said.
Expanding Support for Community Policing
Restoring federal funding for community policing is one of Israni’s central public safety proposals.
She said local police departments need additional staffing and resources in order to rebuild trust and improve responsiveness within neighborhoods.
“We need to restore federal community police funding so that our cities can hire more officers,” Israni said.
According to her, rebuilding local law enforcement capacity is necessary for maintaining public order and ensuring communities feel protected.
Israni said her early experience attending the police academy gave her firsthand insight into the demands placed on officers and informed her views on policing and public safety policy.
Mental Health Response Beyond Policing
Fully funding mental health crisis response programs is essential to reducing pressure on law enforcement and improving emergency response outcomes, Israni said.
“Apart from having universal background checks, we need to fully fund the mental health crisis response. It is critical to have trained professionals, and not just police officers, so that they can respond to situations involving mental health emergencies,” Israni, a mother of four teenagers said.
She argued that trained mental health professionals should work alongside public safety systems so individuals in crisis receive appropriate care while police officers remain focused on crime prevention and emergency response.
According to Israni, effective public safety policy requires both law enforcement support and complementary mental health services.
Rebuilding Trust in Local Communities
Strengthening community trust and improving neighborhood safety are interconnected goals, Israni said.
She argued that properly staffed departments, combined with investments in crisis response services, can help communities feel safer without creating an atmosphere of over-policing.
By restoring federal support and investing in local public safety infrastructure, Israni said communities can rebuild confidence between residents and law enforcement agencies.
“Certainly, we need to do more to ensure that people feel safe in their neighborhoods,” she said.
The special election to replace former Congressman Eric Swalwell is scheduled for August 18, while the Democratic primary is set for June 16. The primary for the permanent seat will be held on June 2.
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