Stabenow, Peters Announce More than $2 Million to Hire Officers for West Michigan Police Departments

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow Gary Peters today announced more than $2 million in assistance to hire and retain law enforcement officers for police departments in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The grants are part of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program (CHP) and are administered by the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office.

"Our police officers put their lives on the line for us every day," said Senator Stabenow. "These resources will give families the peace of mind that officers in their community will be able to respond quickly to a crime or other emergency."

"It is essential for police and community members to work together to make public safety a priority," said Senator Peters. "This assistance will help provide communities across West Michigan with vital resources to keep police officers on the beat and promote community policing partnerships that will keep our communities safe."

The Grand Rapids Police Department will receive $1 million to recruit, hire or retain eight police officers. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety will receive $1.25 million to support 10 officers.

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is dedicated to promoting trust and mutual respect between police and the communities they serve as a critical aspect of public safety. The COPS Hiring Program is designed to advance public safety through community policing by providing funds to law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire career law enforcement officers, and to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. For more information on the COPS Program, visit: www.cops.usdoj.gov.