Congressman Cohen and Senator Alexander announce $477,996 Grant for Shelby County
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Steve Cohen and Senator Lamar Alexander announced a $477,996 grant through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for Shelby County, Tennessee. This money is part of a larger $14.8 Million grant which will help enhance school safety throughout the United States. The grants were awarded through the COPS Secure Our Schools program, which provides funds to improve security at schools.
“This money is vital to the security and safety of the children of Shelby County,” said Congressman Cohen. “As a former legal advisor to the Memphis Police Department, I realize the importance of the COPS program and will continue to work to secure grant money for programs which provide safety to our schools.”
“Just a few months ago I voted to pass H.R. 1700, which provides more police officers and enhances funding for COPS,” continued Congressman Cohen. “This grant will maintain funding for COPS and will allow the Secure Our Schools Program to grow and prosper. I am pleased with this grant and believe that it is going to a very worthwhile cause.”
Congressman Cohen was an original co-sponsor of H.R. 1700, which amends the Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and enhances the COPS grant program. This Act is very important to the safety of local schools and communities and has helped grants like the current one become a possibility.
“Schools should be safe places of learning,” said Senator Alexander. “This grant of nearly half a million dollars will help those who enforce the law get the best equipment they need to protect our students. Congressman Cohen has made school safety a top priority and I will continue to work with him to improve the schools in Shelby County and across Tennessee.”
The Secure Our Schools program will provide up to 50 percent of the total cost for municipalities to install metal detectors, locks, lighting and other equipment to help deter crime. The grants can also be used to pay half of the cost of security assessments, training and other measures that will provide a significant improvement in security in schools.
Secure Our Schools is one of several COPS initiatives to enhance school and community safety. COPS has provided nearly $930 million to state and local law enforcement agencies across the nation to hire and train more than 6,300 officers. COPS also supports innovative community policing techniques, funds the purchase of crime fighting technology, and provides training and technical assistance resources. Since 1995, COPS has invested $12.4 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
For additional information about COPS Secure Our Schools program, and to view a list of municipalities that received grants, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
- 30 -
Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, (202) 225-3265
Brian Alberts, Communications Assistant, (202) 225-3265
Susan Sowell, Executive Assistant (901) 544-4131