Justice Department Awards More than $3 Million to Hire Community Policing Officers in the Western District of Texas

United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., today announced $3,125,000 in grant funding through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). These funds have been awarded to the San Antonio Police Department and will allow for the hiring of 25 additional full-time law enforcement officers. CHP provides grant funding directly to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to support the hiring of additional law enforcement officers, for three years, to address specific crime problems utilizing community policing strategies.

“Community policing is an effective tool for reducing violent crime in our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr. “With this grant, an important partner agency of ours will be able to hire and train additional officers to enhance public safety in our community.”

Earlier today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that 179 law enforcement agencies across the nation were awarded $98,495,397 through the COPS Office’s CHP funding program. These awards will allow for the hiring of 802 additional full-time law enforcement officers.

The COPS Office awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.

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