U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont Announces Grant Funding for Investments in Public Safety

Burlington, Vermont – The Justice Department announced today several new commitments as part of its Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime. Instituted by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in May 2021, the strategy focuses on harnessing federal resources, intelligence, and expertise as a force-multiplier with state, local, and Tribal law enforcement.   

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) announced today grants totaling more than $334 million including funding to help law enforcement agencies hire over 1,730 new law enforcement officers across the country while also providing critical funding to support school safety and continue to advance community policing nationwide. 

Through this funding, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont is pleased to announce that the Department’s COPS Office awarded $389,250 to Vermont organizations to combat violent crime and maintain public safety.

“Law enforcement officers across the country are showing up every day to protect their communities in the face of unprecedented challenges,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These grants, which support the hiring of more than 1700 new officers and make critical investments in school safety and crisis intervention efforts, will help provide local law enforcement agencies with the resources they need to keep their communities safe, support officers, and build public trust.” 

U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont Nikolas Kerest stated, “I offer my congratulations to the City of Vergennes and the Town of Pittsford for their $125,000 COPS Hiring Program Awards, the Town of Hartford for its $29,000 awards towards projects associated with law enforcement mental health and wellness, and the Mill River Unified Union School District’s $110,250 award from the COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program. All of these grants should help make Vermont safer.”

Complete lists of all program award recipients, including funding amounts, can be found here.