FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 3, 2005

Congressman Larson Announces COPS Grant for Newington 

WASHINGTON, D.C. � Congressman John B. Larson announced Wednesday that the Newington Police Department has received an estimated $75,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for the hiring of a community policing officer. 

The grant, awarded under the COPS Universal Hiring Program, provides up to 75 percent of the total salary and benefits of each new officer for three years. State or local funds pay the remainders. All jurisdictions that receive grants must retain COPS-funded officer positions, at full cost the police department, for at least one local budget period following the three-year federal funding period. 

Newington was one of only two police departments in Connecticut to be awarded COPS grants during the latest round of funding. The COPS office accepted Newington�s application as meeting the grant�s requirement two years ago, but did not have the available funding until now. 

Larson said he is delighted to see Newington receive this valuable funding in the face of Congressional efforts to slash spending for the program. 

�Community policing is proven to play a vital role in keeping our streets safe,� Larson said. �The COPS program has helped communities put more officers on the street and in contact with local residents and businesses. Supporting our local and city police departments is key, and I will continue to fight to see that it remains a priority.� 

Larson contacted the COPS office on behalf of Newington�s application. 

Newington Police Chief Richard Mulhall said that the grant will enable his department to expand its community policing field programs working with the elderly, local businesses and residents. 

�It will allow us a lot of flexibility,� Mulhall said. �It comes at a good time.� 

The new COPS hire in Newington is one of 65 law enforcement officers in 15 states and Puerto Rico to be included in the latest round of funding. 

According to the Department Justice, 64 percent of the nation�s law enforcement agencies, serving 86 percent of the U.S. population, engage in community policing practices.

Since it was established in 1995, COPS has funded the hiring of more than 118,000 community policy officers to more than 13,000 of the nation�s estimated 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies. These grants help make neighborhoods safer by increasing the number of officers available to patrol local communities and reduce fear and crime. 

For more information, contact Chief Mulhall at (860) 594-6201

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