U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) today announced more than $1 million in recovery dollars for local police departments in Burlington, Everett and Snohomish, Washington. The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and will help communities hire and retain cops during the economic downturn.
“During these tight economic times, we cannot afford to shortchange local law enforcement as they work to keep us safe,” said Larsen. “Recovery dollars for COPS will make a real difference in our community.”
Law enforcement agencies can use Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Recovery Program grants to hire and/or rehire career law enforcement officers in an effort and to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. These grants provide 100 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly-hired, full-time sworn officer positions (including filling existing unfunded vacancies) or for 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.
COPS grants announced today:
In Skagit County, the Burlington Police Department will receive $287,018 to hire one officer for three years including salary and benefits.
In Snohomish County, the Everett Police Department will receive $608,322 to hire two police officers over the next three years. This funding is strictly designated for salary and benefits. Specifically, the grant will fund a new school resource officer at Explorer Middle School and a gang education officer to provide community outreach and awareness throughout the Everett school district.
Thanks to a $261,000 grant, the Snohomish Police Department will be able to keep its most recently hired officer on staff for the next three years.
“For a city the size of Snohomish, this grant has a monumental impact on the stability of our city budget,” said Police Chief John Turner.