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JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S COPS OFFICE PROVIDES $10 MILLION

New York, NY Attorney General John Ashcroft and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) today announced $10 million in emergency assistance to the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

Last year, the COPS Office awarded NYPD a grant for over $92 million to hire 1,230 sworn officers. At the request of Attorney General John Ashcroft, the COPS Office today waived a portion of the local match requirement for this grant. This partial waiver will allow the NYPD to immediately direct $10 million to address some of the law enforcement costs related to last Tuesday's tragic attack.

"New York City has suffered a savage attack and the men and women of the New York City Police Department put themselves in harms way to do their duty to protect and serve," said Attorney General John Ashcroft. "While we can never repay the ultimate sacrifice made by some of those brave officers, we can assist the NYPD in dealing with the aftermath of this tragedy."

"Last Tuesday's events have placed a tremendous strain on the resources of the New York City Police Department," said COPS Director Carl R. Peed. "Like all Americans, we want to help New York City at this crucial time. With these funds, we are providing much needed resources to the NYPD and the citizens of New York City."

Attorney General Ashcroft has asked the COPS Office to continue working with NYPD and the other law enforcement jurisdictions effected by last week's events to identify other assistance that may be available either through new or existing COPS grants and initiatives.

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