Department of Justice Awards Hiring Grants to Help Address Critical Law Enforcement Needs

Montgomery, Alabama - Yesterday the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced a funding award to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) aimed at creating or protecting twenty-five law enforcement positions within the Department of Public Safety. Nearly $124 million will be awarded nationally, including $3,125,000 to ALEA over a three year period.

“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”

The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for officer, deputy, and trooper hires for three years.

“Our first priority is increasing the number of state troopers on the road. The troopers have been understaffed for a number of years due to budget cuts and restraints,” said Alabama Secretary of Law Enforcement Spencer Collier. “This grant will allow us to better serve and protect the citizens of Alabama by hiring additional state troopers.”

“The Department of Justice is proud to support the brave men and women of law enforcement that serve and protect our communities every day,” said U.S. Attorney George Beck Jr. from the Middle District of Alabama. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to reducing crime and increasing public safety. This funding will provide additional resources for law enforcement to develop and implement strategies to reduce violent crime, dismantle drug organizations, and save lives.”

Grantees for the 2014 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and community policing plans.

The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.

For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2014 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at cops.usdoj.gov.

PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
Email: usaalm.press@usdoj.gov
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-7617