In The News
Sanford receives grant to hire more police officers
Sanford Herald
EXCERPTS: The City of Sanford is about to be the recipient of a Department of Justice grant to hire more police officers - seven new officers, to be exact, with a grant of $875,000. The grant from the DOJ is called a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program grant. Cities and police departments are awarded money from the grant each year with the aim of improving public safety and reducing crime. Other surrounding areas who won the money included the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which received $3 million to hire 25 new officers, the City of Orlando, which received $1.8 million to hire 15 officers and the Casselberry Police Department, which received $300,000 to hire three new officers. Under the rules of the grant, after the federal funding runs out after about three years, the departments are then required to keep the hired officers from the grant money for another 12 months at minimum, using their own state or local funds. City Manager Norton Bonaparte said they would be considering whether or not to accept the grant at a City Commission meeting soon. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, who oversees much of the area the funding would be coming to, expressed pride that she was able to help secure the funding. “More officers on the streets will help make our families safer and our communities stronger, which is why this funding is an important boost to our local law enforcement agencies,” said Murphy. “In Congress, I’ve pushed for robust funding for the COPS grant program overall to support our law enforcement community. I’m particularly proud that I was able to help the City of Sanford in its successful grant application so they can secure seven new officers. We owe our law enforcement community a debt of gratitude as they put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and I’m proud to have their backs. I’ll keep working in Congress to support Central Florida and the brave men and women who protect and serve it.” To read the full article, which appears to be a pay wall on the Sanford Herald, click here. |