For Immediate Release
June 23, 2005

Contact: Corey Ray
(202) 616-1728

COPS OFFICE AWARDS $195,000 FOR NATIONAL INDIAN YOUTH POLICE ACADEMY

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) today announced that it has awarded $195,000 to the National Indian Youth Police Academy (NIYPA) for a two-week police academy course for Indian youth from across the country.

NIYPA, now in its fifth year of providing training for Indian teens, focuses on the importance of community involvement in policing and helps participants develop positive relationships with police officers. The Academy, featuring both Native and non-Native law enforcement instructors from a variety of police departments and law enforcement agencies, teaches the core values of community policing and mentors native teens who are considering a career in law enforcement. Since it’s inception, the program has been extremely popular with Native youth, with hundreds of students applying for the 60 open slots in the academy annually.

"The National Indian Youth Police Academy serves as a vehicle for motivating Native youth and enhancing respect for law enforcement and community involvement," said COPS Director Carl Peed. "The success of programs like the NIYPA will help provide more positive options for our Native youth, and will help establish stronger community policing practices everywhere."

Including today's grants, COPS has awarded nearly $182 million in grants to Native-American law enforcement agencies through the Tribal Resources Grant Program (TRGP). For additional information about TRGP and agencies in your area that have received grants, please visit COPS online at www.COPS.USDOJ.gov.

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