On Monday, January 7th, Congressman Bilirakis, Clearwater City Officials, and Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism CEO Wendy Spencer will host a grant award announcement and swearing-in ceremony for AmeriCorps Clearwater, a Corporation for National and Community Service/Volunteer Florida-funded program focused on public safety and homeland security.

From the Tampa Tribune . . .

The Republican will present the funding at Clearwater Police Department headquarters, 645 Pierce St.

Volunteers with the AmeriCorps program work with community policing officers, school resource officers, crime prevention officers and staff of local community service agencies. Their mission is to help prevent and reduce crime and increase public safety.

By addressing nonviolent public safety issues, the volunteers free up police officers to address more serious and crime-related issues.

In one year, AmeriCorps members save officers 4,200 hours of valuable time and save the department more than $100,000, said Elizabeth Daly-Watts, the city's public safety spokesperson.