Sacramento County Sheriff's Department Awarded $21 Million in Federal Funding to Hire 50 New Officers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 30, 2010
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
Award is Largest in the State and Highest Possible Amount from COPS Program
Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) announced that the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department has been awarded $21 million in federal funding to hire 50 new officers. The grant is part of the second round of COPS Hiring Program awards, which allocates funds to local law enforcement agencies to help hire officers to increase a department's community oriented policing capacity and crime-prevention efforts.
Today's announcement for Sacramento County is the maximum award amount available through the program, and is the largest award for any agency in the state of California. It also comprises approximately thirty percent of the overall allocation for the state.
As a result of state and local budget cuts in recent years, the Sacramento County's Sherriff's Office was forced to lay-off officers and personnel, which had a devastating effect on our community, Congresswoman Matsui remarked. That is why the $21 million in COPS funding being awarded to Sacramento County is so critical. I have been working with the Sherriff's Department for the last year on their application in anticipation of today's award and know that this money will be well-spent. 50 new officers will help further enable the Sherriff's Department to keep our community safe and provide Sacramento families the help and protection they need and deserve.
The federal funding award is part of a competitive grant that will provide 100 percent of the approved salary and benefits for the officers for three years. The grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program.
Keeping the people of Sacramento safe and secure is my number one priority, whether that means flood protection or supporting our local law enforcement, added Congresswoman Matsui. I will continue to be a strong advocate for federal support for our region's law enforcement initiatives, and look forward to continuing to help local agencies and organizations secure funds for the projects that help keep our community safe.
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