City of Montgomery Receives $1.8 Million from Department of Justice to Hire Officers

Montgomery, Ala. —The U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP) awarded the City of Montgomery $1,875,000 aimed at creating or protecting fifteen law enforcement positions within the Montgomery Police Department, announced George L. Beck, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.  In total, CHP awarded over $119 million to agencies nationwide, including the award to the City of Montgomery.  This grant is to be used over a three-year period.

The CHP provides funding to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies for the hiring of entry-level career law enforcement officers in an effort to create and preserve jobs and increase community policing and crime prevention efforts.  All CHP applicants were asked to identify a specific crime problem area and describe how funding would be used to enhance their capacity to implement community policing approaches to that problem area.

In 2016, the COPS Office gave additional consideration to applicant agencies selecting the category of “Building Trust,” based on the final report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.  Special attention was also given to agencies that selected the areas of school-based policing, homicide or violent crime, and homeland security.  Applicants who committed to hiring or rehiring at least one military veteran under CHP also received additional consideration for funding.

“We are tremendously thankful to the Department of Justice for this grant award, which recognizes and helps build upon MPD’s meaningful work in community policing, enforcement and crime prevention,” said Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange. “The officers that will be provided for by this grant will strengthen community engagement and the public’s safety throughout our city. On behalf of the Montgomery Police Department and the City of Montgomery, we thank and commend U.S. Attorney George Beck, the DOJ COPS Office, Reps. Martha Roby and Terri Sewell and our entire Congressional delegation.”

“The Department of Justice is proud to support the brave men and women of law enforcement that serve and protect our communities every day,” said U.S. Attorney George Beck Jr. from the Middle District of Alabama.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to reducing crime and increasing public safety.  This funding will provide additional resources for law enforcement to develop and implement strategies to reduce violent crime, fight terrorism, and save lives.”  

For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2016 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=2888