(West Windsor, NJ) – U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) today announced that the City of Trenton has received a $1.5 million Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant that will enable it to hire or retain 12 police officers.

“I was pleased to work with the Trenton leadership and the Justice Department to secure these funds,”Holt said.  "Today's good news is a reminder of the need for continued federal support for local law enforcement and the importance of investing in our local communities,” Holt added.

In September 2014, Holt wrote to the COPS Office at the Department of Justice in support of Trenton’s grant application. “With federal aid, the City of Trenton would be able to partially mitigate the impact of layoffs and provide adequate police presence to reduce violent crimes,” Holt wrote. “I have been contacted by many local leaders who have shared their grave concerns that the severity of the cuts to the Trenton police force will lead to an increase in violent crime in our capital city, placing the remaining officers and the public at increased risk. I share their concerns.”  A copy of his letter is attached.

Trenton Mayor Eric E. Jackson stated, “I am grateful to the New Jersey Senate and Congressional delegations for their assistance in securing the COPS grant. It will enable us to hire 12 more police officers, in addition to our new class of 24 recruits, to strengthen the Trenton Police Department as it works tirelessly to carry out its public safety mission.”

Holt also spoke directly to COPS officials to highlight the importance of these funds to Trenton. Throughout his tenure in Congress, Holt has been a strong supporter of the COPS program.

The COPS Hiring Program (CHP) provides funding to address the full-time sworn officer needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide.  CHP grants go directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new and/or rehire career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.

This year’s CHP grants provide 75 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years (36 months) 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.  Any additional costs above the approved entry-level salaries and fringe benefits, up to $125,000, are the responsibility of the grantee agency.

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