Department Of Justice Awards $2.2 Million For Innovative Community Policing Projects

SALT LAKE CITY – The Department of Justice is awarding $2.2 million in grant funding to law enforcement agencies and stakeholders through the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Community Policing Development (CPD) Microgrants Program.

Salt Lake City is one of the 29 awards announced today by COPS Office Director Phil Keith.  The awards range in amounts from $15,090 to $100,000. Salt Lake City will receive $71,896 to support the Salt Lake City Youth Engagement Project.

“Community policing strategies are a vital tool in building relationships between law enforcement and community partners,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said today. “Congratulations to Salt Lake City on its efforts to develop this innovative project and earn the support of the COPS Office.”

“The CPD Microgrants Program is a critical resource to advance innovative community policing projects across the country,” said Director Keith.  “These strategic investments from the COPS Office pay huge dividends to state and local law enforcement agencies and the communities that they serve.”

CPD Microgrants Program funds are used to develop the capacity of local, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies to implement community policing strategies. Applicants were invited to propose demonstration or pilot projects to be implemented in their agency that offer creative ideas to advance crime fighting, community engagement, problem solving, or organizational changes to support community policing in one of the following areas:

• Human Trafficking
• Meeting Rural Law Enforcement Challenges
• Officer Safety and Wellness
• Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention

• School Safety
• Staffing and Allocation Studies
• Victim-Centered Approaches
• Violent Crime
• Youth Engagement
   
  Funding through this program is available for the first time since 2018, following the successful removal of a nationwide injunction. These awards are being announced at a critical time for our country, when community policing strategies can play a vital role in improving police and community relations.