The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) announced the allocation of over $600 million in grant funding to law enforcement agencies and stakeholders nationwide. This funding aims to support various initiatives, including hiring new officers, enhancing school safety, expanding mental health and wellness services for law enforcement, and combating drug distribution and trafficking.
The announcement coincides with the 30th anniversary of the COPS Office, marking three decades since the passage of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. The COPS Office has played a pivotal role in advancing community policing by providing resources such as grant funding, training, technical assistance, and publications.
“Since its founding 30 years ago, the COPS Office has shown the country what it looks like to put the values of community-oriented policing into action,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This coming year, the Justice Department will provide funding for 235 police departments to hire nearly 1,200 additional officers. As we celebrate this milestone and announce this funding, we recommit ourselves to the COPS Office’s mission and to the belief that everyone in this country deserves to feel safe and be safe in their communities.”
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the significance of the COPS Office: “For 30 years, the COPS Office has been crucial to keeping our communities safe. From helping communities build public safety capacity by putting more cops on the beat to helping law enforcement professionals build resilience —the COPS office has been a game changer for public safety.”
Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer highlighted community partnerships: “Over the past three decades, the COPS Office has provided vital resources, training, and support to law enforcement agencies across the country to help them implement community policing strategies. That support is based on the foundational tenet that communities are safer when law enforcement and community members work in true partnership.”
Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the COPS Office remarked on continued support: “As the COPS Office celebrates its 30th anniversary of working with local, state, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies, these grants are another example of the tremendous support we have been able to offer over years... These grants are one more way we work to ensure law enforcement and community members get needed support as they continue striving for safety.”
The announced funding includes:
- $157 million through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) for 235 agencies to hire nearly 1,200 additional officers.
- $73 million for school safety measures under School Violence Prevention Program/Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
- $46 million via Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) program and Anti-Methamphetamine Program (CAMP) against opioid/methamphetamine trafficking.
- Over $31 million plus $500K technical assistance through Tribal Resources Grant Program (TRGP).
- Over $9 million under Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) program.
- $750K for De-Escalation Training Act implementation.
- $10.5 million through Preparing for Active Shooter Situations (PASS) Program.
- Almost $14 million in Community Policing Development Microgrants/Law Enforcement Products & Resources.
- Over $4 million promoting crisis intervention teams with behavioral/mental health professionals embedded with law enforcement.
- $6.5 million supporting accreditation programs for police/sheriff’s agencies.
Established in 1994 as part of crime-fighting strategy following its inception from legislative action earlier that decade; having appropriated over $20 billion since then towards advancing community policing initiatives – supporting more than 13k diverse U.S.-based law-enforcement entities involving redeployment/hiring approximating around138k officers throughout its operational history.