Congresswoman Matsui Announces $19.4 Million in Federal Grants for Sacramento Law Enforcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 28, 2011

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

Congresswoman Matsui Announces $19.4 Million in Federal Grants for Sacramento Law Enforcement
Federal Grant Will Provide Funding for 50 Positions

CA Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) announced over $19.4 million in federal funding for local law enforcement, enabling the hiring, re-hiring or retaining of 50 first responders to protect and serve the Sacramento community. The grants provide 100 percent funding for the entry-level salaries and benefits of newly-hired, or rehired, full-time officer positions over a 3-year period. The Sacramento Sheriff's Department was awarded $11,306,450 for 25 deputies; the Sacramento Police Department will receive $8,102,450 for 25 officers.

The federal grants are made available through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program through Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 funding. The COPS Hiring Program is a competitive grant program that provides funding directly to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire, re-hire, or retain police officers dedicated to addressing specific crime and disorder challenges confronting communities. Congresswoman Matsui voted against cuts to the COPS Program for FY11 funding earlier this year, as well as writing a letter of support on behalf of both the Police and Sheriff's Departments applications.

Both Sacramento's Police and Sheriff's Departments will receive much-needed funding through the COPS Hiring Program to hire, re-hire, and retain a total of 50 officer and deputy positions, said Congresswoman Matsui. This federal funding will strengthen our community's law enforcement's ability to keep us safe, and ensure that budgetary shortfalls do not eliminate these critical positions. This is wonderful news for both the Sacramento Police Department and the Sheriff's Department, but especially so for Sacramento residents.

COPS Director Bernard Melekian was in Sacramento today to join Matsui, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan, Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel, and Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones for the announcement. Together, the Sacramento region was awarded the largest dollar amount than any other community in the nation, with both agencies receiving the highest number of positions. In fact, the Sacramento Sheriff's Department received more funding than any other entity in the country; the Sacramento Police Department received the third highest amount.

Cities across the country are dealing with numerous challenges and we are pleased to be able to assist their public safety efforts, said Melekian. Creating and maintaining jobs is a key part of this program. This funding helps support local departments in their efforts to increase their ranks, enhance their relationship with the community and directly address their public safety concerns.

This is a big win in our efforts to continue to reduce the crime rate in Sacramento, said Mayor Johnson. It feels like Christmas in September. With devastating budget cuts in July, we had to watch officers turn their badges in for the first time in our city's history. Now we have an opportunity to pin those badges back on our officers and get them back on the street. It's a great day for public safety, which must continue to be Sacramento's top priority.

Sacramento County Sheriff Scott R. Jones was extremely pleased by the news and stated, This funding was secured by the collaborative efforts of many important individuals at many levels and, in kind, will serve the needs of our region and the many agencies with whom we are proud to call our partners.

The Sacramento Police Department has focused our limited resources on reducing crime. Receipt of the much needed COPS grant enables us to continue these efforts," said Sacramento Chief of Police Rick Braziel. "This federal funding benefits the entire Sacramento region. Thank you to Congresswoman Matsui's office for their continued leadership and support in making Sacramento a safer community.

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