COPS Grants $19.8 Million to Hire Additional Officers

The grants were awarded via the COPS Universal Hiring Program, and provide up to 75 percent of the total salary and benefits of each new officer for 3 years, up to $75,000. Local funds pay the remainder. All jurisdictions that receive grants must retain the COPS-funded officer positions for at least one complete local budget cycle following the 3-year federal funding period.

The grants are intended to enhance the community policing capacity of local law enforcement agencies to address violent crime.

"Today's grants will provide America's law enforcement agencies with added manpower, and they will help make our communities safer places to live and work," said COPS Director Carl R. Peed. "The grants will place officers on the front line of the fight against crime and will improve their ability to provide effective community policing services."

COPS is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded more than $9 billion to advance community policing, including grants to more than 13,200 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of 117,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, technical assistance, conferences and webcasts.

For more information, or to learn which law enforcement agencies received grants, please visit http://www.cops.usdoj.gov.