U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) announced today that the City of Beckley has been awarded $225,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to fund the hiring of 3 additional police officers.
 
“I have fought tooth and nail for increased funding to hire additional police officers through the COPS program and am pleased to see that those efforts have paid off for the citizens of Beckley,” said Rahall.  “These additional officers will be a welcome and much-needed addition to southern West Virginia’s police force.”

As part of the COPS Universal Hiring Program, the funding provides up to 75 percent of the total salary and benefits of each new officer for three years; state or local funds pay the remainder.  All jurisdictions that receive grants must retain COPS-funded officer positions for at least one complete budget cycle following the three-year federal funding period.

The grants are intended to enhance the community policing capacity of local law enforcement agencies that have a combination of high crime rates and a low officer to citizen ratio as reported through the national Uniform Crime Report.  

“The COPS program has been instrumental in putting police officers on the beat and providing modern technology to catch criminals and respond to emergencies,” said Rahall.  “I will continue to strive to be of service to West Virginia’s law enforcement officers whenever I can, as they work to fight crime and keep our neighborhoods safe.”