Seven Western Washington Jurisdictions Awarded DOJ Grants to Help Reduce Violence and Protect Schools

WASHINGTON, DC—Today the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced funding awards to seven cities and counties in the Western District of Washington, aimed at creating, and in some cases protecting, 33 law enforcement positions.  Nearly $121 million will be awarded nationally, including $6.2 million for Western Washington.

“This essential program will put more officers on our streets and in our schools to improve community safety,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.  “It was a competitive process for grants, and today’s announcement is a tribute to these departments who demonstrated how they will serve their communities.”

The Seattle Police Department and Tacoma Police Department each received funding for ten new officers.  Auburn is funded for five officers, Federal Way four officer and the cities of Fife and Aberdeen one officer each.  The Skagit County Sheriff’s Department was awarded funding for two officers.

“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.

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 fund 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 the 2014 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.