U.S. Department of Justice 
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

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Community Oriented Policing Services logo
www.cops.usdoj.gov 

Fact Sheet 

COPS in Schools 
The COPS Commitment to School Safety 


"WE WANT THEM [STUDENTS] TO BE
COMFORTABLE COMING TO US WITH A 
PROBLEM AND REALIZE WE'RE PEOPLE, 
NOT JUST A UNIFORM." 

DETECTIVE MARK DUBOIS
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER
WAYNE (NJ) POLICE DEPARTMENT


Background 

The Office of Community Oriented Policing
Services (COPS) has awarded more than $753
million to more than 3,000 law enforcement
agencies to fund over 6,500 school resource 
officers (SROs) through the COPS in Schools 
(CIS) Program. In addition, COPS has 
dedicated approximately $23 million to 
training COPS-funded SROs and the school 
administrator in the partnering school(s) or 
school district(s) to work more collaboratively 
through the CIS program. This partnership
encourages the use of community policing 
strategies to prevent school violence and 
implement educational programs to improve 
student and school safety. 

Communities throughout the nation recognize 
that trained, sworn law enforcement officers
assigned to schools make a difference. SROs 
serve in a variety of roles, including law
enforcement officer, law-related educator, 
problem-solver, and community liaison. The 
SROs funded through the COPS in Schools 
program teach classes in crime prevention, 
substance abuse awareness, and gang 
resistance. SROs monitor and assist troubled 
students through mentoring programs and
promote personal and social responsibility by 
encouraging participation in community 
service activities. SROs continue to build 
upon the respect and understanding between 
law enforcement and the school communities. 
These officers also identify physical changes 
in the environment that could reduce crime in 
and around primary and secondary schools, 
and help develop school policies that address 
criminal activity and school safety. 

Training 

Recipients of CIS grants are required to attend 
one three-day CIS training workshop 
sponsored by the COPS Office. Grantees must 
send each of the CIS SROs and one 
designated school official from the specific 
school(s) or school district(s) into which the 
officer(s) will be deployed to the training. The 
COPS Office will pay for the training, travel, 
lodging, and per diem up to a maximum of 
$1,200 per required participant. 
 
To advance the Administration’s efforts to 
secure our homeland, the COPS Office will 
enhance our current training program to 
include topics on terrorism prevention, 
emergency response, and the critical role 
schools can play in community preparedness. 



 

 
Program Requirements   
The CIS grant program provides a maximum  
federal contribution of up to $125,000 per
officer position over the three-year grant 
period, with any remaining costs to be paid   
with local funds. CIS grant funding is for  
payment of entry-level salaries and benefits of 
newly-hired, additional SROs to be deployed
to work in and around primary and secondary 
schools. Alternatively, CIS funds may be used 
to pay for entry-level salaries and benefits of
newly-hired, additional officers who will 
backfill the positions of locally-funded
veteran officers deployed as the SRO. 



Each SRO must devote at least 75 percent of 
his or her time (measured weekly, monthly, 
or annually) to work in and around primary 
and secondary schools, in addition to the 
time that agencies would have devoted to 
SRO functions in the absence of the CIS 
grant. 

To be eligible under this grant program, 
agencies must demonstrate that they have 
primary law enforcement authority within 
the partner school(s) identified in their 
application and demonstrate an inability to 
implement this project without federal 
assistance. 

COPS offers a variety of 
publications, products, and 
training opportunities to advance 
community policing and support 
its grant programs. COPS 
publications and products offer 
insights and experiences from 
others in the field addressing 
specific problems including: 

 
Problem Oriented Guides for 
Police: Bullying in Schools 
 
SchoolCOPS software and 
accompanying Guide to 
Using School COP to Address 
Student Discipline Problems 

COPS Innovations: 
Addressing School Related 
Crime and Disorder 

COPS also sponsors training 
opportunities and conferences to 
give law enforcement 
professionals an opportunity to 
learn, network, and exchange 
ideas. COPS publications and 
training opportunities are posted 
at COPS Online at 
www.cops.usdoj.gov. 

Contact COPS 

For more information, call the COPS Office 
Response Center at 800.421.6770, or visit 
COPS Online at www.cops.usdoj.gov. 

Updated: August 10, 2005 
e09042494