FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, June 25, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) today announced funding awards to over 220 cities and counties, aimed at creating or saving approximately 800 law enforcement positions. The grants will fund over 600 new law enforcement positions and save an additional 200 positions recently lost or in jeopardy of being cut due to local budget cuts. All new law enforcement positions funded in the COPS 2012 Hiring Program must be filled by recent military veterans who have served at least 180 days since September 11, 2001.

More than $111 million is being awarded to local public safety agencies across the country. The list of this year’s grantees includes 17 local law enforcement agencies in the Eastern District, which will receive $5,678,048 for 33 officers. The COPS Office will work with transition centers across the country to connect veterans with the new grant-funded law enforcement opportunities. For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2012 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.

“Today, we step up our support for recent veterans by offering them the chance to pursue meaningful careers in law enforcement,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “At a time of budget shortfalls, these grants will provide opportunities for much-needed, highly trained professionals — with a proven commitment to service — to continue their careers in communities all across the country.”

“This new opportunity for veterans is a commitment to support those who are coming home from their tour of duty,” said Bernard Melekian, COPS Office Director. “We sincerely hope this effort encourages our veterans to continue to protect and serve the United States through new law enforcement careers.”

“These grants from the U.S. Department of Justice will provide timely relief – both for hard-pressed law enforcement agencies in this district, and for many of our military veterans,” United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California Benjamin B. Wagner said. “These funds will put police officers on the street in our communities, and will ensure that qualified military veterans will bring their experience to law enforcement.”

This year’s COPS Hiring Program grants provide 75 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly-hired, fulltime, sworn-officer positions (including filling existing unfunded vacancies) or for rehired officers who have been laid off, or are scheduled to be laid off on a future date, as a result of local budget cuts. Any additional costs above the approved entry-level salaries and fringe benefits, up to $125,000, are the responsibility of the grantee agency.

Recipients of the awards are: Bakersfield Police Department, Ceres Department of Public Safety, Chowchilla, Colusa Police Department, Delano, Farmersville Police Department, Kerman, , Mammoth Lakes, McFarland, Mendota Police Department, Merced Police Department, Oroville Police Department, Placerville Police Department, Ridgecrest, Sonora Police Department, Tulare County Sheriff's Department, Willows Police Department.

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