Justice Department Awards Hiring Grant to Farmington Police Department

ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez announced that last week the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) awarded a hiring grant to the Farmington Police Department aimed at creating six law enforcement positions to help reduce violence and address other critical law enforcement needs in Farmington, N.M.  Nearly $124 million in grants were awarded nationally, including the $750,000 grant for the Farmington Police Department.

“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 and deputy hires for three years.

“This COPS grant has identified a public safety need in Farmington and San Juan County,” said U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez.  “Every additional officer on the street helps community safety and we know that the six new officers will help fight crime in San Juan County and improve the lives of the people who live there.”

“The Farmington Police Department is very pleased to have been chosen to receive funding for six additional officers.  As our agency continues to develop our community policing program, the additional officers will allow us to work closer with the San Juan Community College and to increase our work in our parks and downtown business area.  Currently, we are working with the Public Safety staff of the College to improve campus safety by greater visibility and information sharing, as well as coordinated exercises,” said Chief Steve Hebbe.  “We wish to thank all those who helped us obtain this grant and we look forward to improving our level of service with these additional officers.”
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 fun 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 2014 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.