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. ### 94-630