Rep Costa Announces $5.6 Million In COPS Funding To Citites In Kern County

WASHINGTON,DC-Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Bakersfield) announced that a total of$5,683,759 million has been awarded to the police departments in Arvin,Bakersfield and Delano to address the full-time sworn police officer needs inthose cities. Funding was released through the US Department of JusticeCOPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP) made available through the AmericanRecovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

"Ourpolice departments have been hit hard by the sluggish economy, so these grantscould not come at a better time," Costa said. "We need to ensure our citystreets and neighborhoods remain safe, and federal investment in our localpolice departments is one of the best ways to deter crime."

ArvinPolice Department: $198,501: 1 Officer Awarded

BakersfieldPolice Department: $5,062,124: 17 Officers Awarded

Cityof Delano: $423,134: 2 Officers Awarded

CHRP grants willprovide 100 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits forthree years for newly-hired, full-time sworn officer positions (includingfilling existing unfunded vacancies) or for rehired officers who have been laidoff, or are scheduled to be laid off on a future date, as a result of localbudget cuts.

Police departments receiving the grants will then be requiredto retain the grant funded positions for a fourth year. The fundingprovides much needed support to state and local government budgets, and willhelp the nation's law enforcement agencies add and retain the manpower neededto fight crime more effectively through community policing.