“I’m proud that stimulus funds flowing through the COPS program will help make our community safer and keep more officers on the job,” said the Congressman. “The City of St. Louis, along with University City; Pagedale; Kinloch; Jennings; Country Club Hills; Bel Ridge and Berkeley will receive a total of over $10.3 million in COPs Recovery Act grants.  That will allow the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to hire or rehire 50 police officers.  And the seven county municipalities will be able to add officers as well.  Our law enforcement officers are brave men and women who protect our community by risking their lives every day. I’m pleased that we can show our gratitude by saving their jobs and creating more job opportunities with these vital funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Nationwide, $1 billion in grants are being awarded under the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP). Grants will be made to more than 1,000 law enforcement agencies in all 50 states.

CHRP grants will provide 100 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly-hired, full-time sworn officers (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 Recovery Act Grant Awards in St. Louis City and County include:

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department  $8,678,550
Bel-Ridge Police Department                       $152,262      
Berkeley Police Department                         $316,492      
Country Club Hills Police Department        $115,731      
Jennings, City of                                              $305,074     
Kinloch Police Department                           $90,604     
Pagedale Police Department                       $127,798      
University City                                                  $559,785