For Immediate Release
October 01, 2009
CONTACT: Gilbert L. Moore
(202) 616-1728
COPS OFFICE AWARDS $16 MILLION IN SCHOOL SAFETY FUNDS
WASHINGTON, D.C. –
The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
(COPS) today announced $16 million in grants to 128 local law enforcement
agencies and municipalities to enhance school safety in 38 states. The grants
were awarded under COPS' Secure Our Schools program, which provides funds to
improve security in schools and on school grounds.
The Secure Our Schools program will provide up to 50 percent of the total
cost for law enforcement agencies and schools to install metal detectors, locks,
lighting, fencing, closed-circuit surveillance systems and other equipment to
help deter crime. The grants can also be used to pay half of the cost of
security assessments, security training, and other measures that will provide a
significant improvement in school security. "Our schools should be places
where students can learn and develop without fear of violence," said
Attorney General Eric Holder. "With these grants, the Justice Department is
providing police and school districts with additional resources to help ensure
the safety and security of our children." Secure Our Schools is one of
several COPS initiatives to enhance school safety. Through this program,
including today's grants, COPS has provided communities with more than $82
million to make schools safer. Overall, COPS has invested more than $913 million
in America's schools through our Safe Schools Initiative, COPS in Schools,
School-Based Partnerships and Secure Our Schools programs.
"Ensuring the safety of students is very important and we are pleased to
support local efforts establish and maintain secure schools," said COPS
Acting Director David Buchanan.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community
policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $12.5 billion to advance
community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,600 state, local
and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring of officers and provide a
variety of knowledge resource products including community policing
publications, training and technical assistance.
For additional information about COPS Secure Our Schools program, and to view
a list of municipalities that received grants, visit COPS Web site at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
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• Secure Our Schools Program 2009 Grant Recipient List: PDF
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