Attorney General Merrick B. Garland delivered remarks on September 17, 2024, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). He began by acknowledging an ongoing FBI investigation into an apparent assassination attempt against a former official in Florida, emphasizing the Justice Department's commitment to thoroughly investigating the matter.
Garland highlighted the significance of community partnerships in the success of the COPS Office. "Whether you are a current or former COPS Office employee, a community member, an advocate, a law enforcement professional, a city, state, or Tribal leader — thank you," he said.
The Attorney General praised the concept of community-oriented policing as foundational to effective public safety. "Community policing is based on the idea that public trust is essential to ensuring public safety," he noted.
Garland reflected on his tenure at the Justice Department during which he witnessed the creation of the COPS Office by Congress. The office aimed to deploy 100,000 new police officers and has since provided grants to over 13,000 law enforcement agencies for various programs including school safety and combating drug trafficking.
He cited examples from Georgia, Missouri, and South Carolina where COPS funding has had tangible impacts on local communities. In Georgia, it enabled a county police department to focus on mental health crises and community outreach. In Missouri, it resulted in a significant decrease in calls for service and an increase in crimes solved. In South Carolina, it allowed a school district to hire a security specialist who developed new safety assessment processes.
Garland also mentioned the Anti-Heroin Task Force grants which led to significant seizures and arrests related to heroin and fentanyl between 2019 and 2022.
The Attorney General discussed the Critical Incident Review conducted by the COPS Office following the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde. The review identified multiple failures in response and communication during the incident and provided over 270 recommendations for future improvements.
In celebration of this milestone for the COPS Office, Garland announced new investments including $157 million for hiring nearly 1,200 additional police officers through the COPS Hiring Program. Other allocations include $73 million for school violence prevention under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, $31 million for Tribal Nations' law enforcement needs, $46 million to combat opioids and methamphetamine spread, and $10.5 million for training first responders against active shooter threats.
Garland concluded by reaffirming his belief in partnerships between law enforcement and communities as crucial for reducing violent crime. He highlighted recent data indicating continued declines in violent crime rates across major cities.
"As we celebrate 30 years of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services," Garland said, "may we all recommit ourselves to its mission."