WASHINGTON - Congressman Adam H. Putnam (FL-12) today announced grant awards totaling over $1.6 million for Polk and Hillsborough Counties. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), as a result of increased funding supported by Congressman Putnam in the FY 2003 Commerce, State and Justice Appropriations Bill for the COPS program.

Polk County has been awarded $875,000 from the COPS In Schools (CIS) program to hire law enforcement officers to protect its schools, while the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department has been awarded $750,000 from the COPS Universal Hiring Program (UHP) to hire more law enforcement officers to protect its streets.

“I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Justice has shown its commitment to protecting Florida’s schools and streets,” said Putnam. “This funding from the COPS In Schools program and the COPS Universal Hiring Program represents a huge investment for Polk and Hillsborough counties to give law enforcement officials the tools and resources they need to ensure the safety of our children and protect our communities.”

CIS grants allow law enforcement agencies to pay, for the salary and benefits of additional sworn officers to perform a variety of functions in and around schools. COPS In Schools grants provide a maximum of $125,000 over a three-year period to cover the salary and benefits of additional school resource officers assigned to protect schools. Additionally, COPS has enhanced the training associated with these grants by incorporating instruction on terrorism, counterterrorism and the critical role of schools in community preparedness and disaster response.

UHP provides up to 75 percent of the total cost of salary and benefits of each new officer for three years, up to a maximum of $75,000 per officer. Local funds pay the remainder, and each grantee is required to retain the new position(s) for a minimum of one local budget cycle after the grant funds expire.