July 28, 2009

Biden, Markell Announce Funding to Put More Police on Delaware Streets

PHILADELPHIA – Gov. Markell joined Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday in announcing the COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP).  Through federal Recovery Act funding, the Justice Department will provide grants to localities to fund the hiring or rehiring of law-enforcement officers.  
 
Delaware was awarded over $5 million for the hiring or rehiring of 24 officers in nine localities:

• Town of Cheswold, 1 officer awarded ($148,328)

• Dewey Beach Police Department, 1 officer awarded ($180,440)

• Dover Police Department, 1 officer awarded ($242,513)

• Town of Georgetown, 1 officer awarded ($223,380)

• City of Harrington, 1 officer awarded ($168,834)

• Middletown Police Department, 1 officer awarded ($224,752)

• Selbyville Police Department, 1 officer awarded ($152,873)

• Smyrna Police Department, 1 officer awarded ($238,772)

• City of Wilmington, 16 officers awarded ($3,543,888)

“This funding will create jobs while keeping Delawareans safe,” Markell said. “One of government’s most fundamental responsibilities is protecting its citizens. I believe that having police on the street is critical in reducing crime.”
 
State, local, and tribal governments were all eligible to receive grants.  The Justice Department awarded funding to 1,046 law enforcement agencies in all 50 states.

"A big part of the Recovery Act is about building communities – making them as strong as they can be, allowing every American family to live a better life than the one they are leading now,” said Vice President Biden. "And we can’t achieve the goal of stronger communities without supporting those who keep our streets safe."

The COPS Hiring Recovery Program “is a competitive grant program that provides funding directly to law enforcement agencies having primary law enforcement authority to create and preserve jobs and to increase their community policing capacity and crime-prevention efforts.”  The grants provide 100 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for 3 years for newly-hired, full-time officers, or rehired officers who have been laid off, or are scheduled to be laid off on a future date, as a result of local budget cuts.  To receive the funding, localities must commit to pay the officer’s salary for the fourth year.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey and law enforcement officers from mid-Atlantic states also attended the announcement in Philadelphia.