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Congressional delegation notifies state and local law enforcement of federal grant opportunities

COPS grants assist state and local law enforcement agencies with staffing and training needs
May 7, 2013

Sen. Tom Carper and Sen. Chris Coons, and Congressman John Carney have notified Delaware’s state and local law enforcement agencies of two federal grant opportunities available through the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services Program.  The two grant programs now in an open application period include the COPS Hiring Program and the Community Policing Development Program.  CHP applications must be submitted before 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 22.  The deadline for CPD applications is 5 p.m., Friday, May 24.

“Last month’s tragic events in Boston remind us of just how important state and local law enforcement is for our communities,” said Carper. “The COPS programs can help Delaware’s state and local law enforcement agencies hire more police officers to keep our communities safe and prevent dangerous crimes. I encourage any police department in the First State looking to boost the capacity of their force to apply for these helpful federal grants.”

“As the tragic events in Boston unfolded last month, our country witnessed the critical role police officers have at containing a disaster and apprehending the criminal,” Coons, chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, said. “Every day our officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities from danger. It’s funding like the COPS Hiring Program that ensures our police departments are adequately staffed and have the resources they need to hire and retain officers. I hope police departments across Delaware will apply for this important grant program that will help keep our neighborhoods safe.”

“The tragic events in Boston provided yet another reminder of the critical role first responders play in our daily lives. Keeping our communities safe must be the top priority,” said Carney.  “The grants made available through the COPS program gives law enforcement the staff, training, and resources they need to protect our neighborhoods and themselves.  I urge any state or local police department looking for such support to apply.”

The COPS Hiring Program is a competitive grant that provides funding directly to state and local law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire additional officers in support of community policing and crime prevention efforts.  Awardees may receive up to 75 percent of the approved entry-level salaries and fringe benefits of each newly hired and/or rehired full-time officer, up to $125,000 per officer position, over a three-year grant period.  More information can be found at http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2367.

Community Policing Development Program funds are used to advance the practice of community policing in law enforcement agencies through training and technical assistance, the development and documentation of innovative community policing strategies, applied research, guidebooks and best practices that are national in scope.  The program is open to all government agencies, profit and nonprofit institutions, universities, community groups and faith-based organizations.  Proposals should be of national relevance, significantly advance the field of community policing and demonstrate an understanding of community policing as it pertains to the application topic.  For more information, visit: http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2682.

 

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