FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    AG
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1994                                    (202) 616-0189
                                                         TDD (202) 514-1888

SMALL TOWNS AND CITIES CAN HIRE THOUSANDS OF NEW POLICE WITH ONE-
PAGE APPLICATION UNDER "COPS FAST" PROGRAM


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Moving to cut red tape and help quickly
put thousands more police on America's streets, Attorney General
Janet Reno announced today that more than 18,000 small cities and
towns will be able to apply for money to help hire new police
officers by filling out an unprecedented one-page application --
and receive an answer within three months.  Under the program,
named COPS FAST, jurisdictions with fewer than 50,000 people can
apply by the end of this year and find out how much aid they will
receive by February 1, 1995.

     "Many towns are now just one page away from getting federal
assistance to hire police officers," said Reno.  "As a former
local prosecutor, I know how daunting federal paperwork can be --
especially for smaller towns and their police departments. 
That's why we've crafted a simple, one-page application that will
help smaller cities and towns apply for federal aid to help them
put more police on their streets."

     The COPS FAST program is the third administration
announcement in three weeks to speed up the crime bill's
provisions to help put 100,000 new police on America's streets. 
The Justice Department announced expedited application COPS AHEAD
procedures for cities 50,000 and over last week, and three weeks
ago announced $200 million in hiring grants under the crime bill. 
The crime bill was signed by President Clinton September 13.

     The application is a single sheet with blanks to be filled
in concerning the hiring agency, the number of police officers on
the force, the number sought by the department, basic financial
information and an agreement to abide by legal standards. 
Completed applications are due December 31, 1994.  In order to
receive any funds awarded, applicants will also have to submit
necessary budget information and a brief description of their
community policing plans.
     Participation is voluntary.  The Department will assist
applicants to insure that their applications, strategies and
training programs are properly qualified to take advantage of
COPS FAST.
     Awards made under COPS FAST will not affect a jurisdiction's
eligibility for future police hiring grants under the crime bill,
which authorized $8.8 billion for police hiring through the year
2000.  Applications for these future grants will be made
available later this fall, and every jurisdiction in America will
be eligible to apply.
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