Congressman Cohen Votes for More Police on the Streets in Memphis

“Under the COPS program, our nation has experienced a significant drop in crime rates, and independent studies confirm that COPS hiring grants helped contribute to this reduction in crime,” said Congressman Cohen. “I proudly cosponsored this bill because it strengthens this program with a proven track record of success and puts more police officers on the streets of Memphis, reduces crime and protects families. Keeping families in the 9th District safe has always been my highest priority in Congress, and this bill renews this commitment. Passing this bill was especially important in light of the economic crisis as state and local governments grapple with increasing crime rates and decreased revenue for hiring additional officers.”

Created in 1994 under the Clinton Administration, the COPS hiring grants program was an enormously successful, popular program – helping local law enforcement agencies to hire 117,000 additional police officers from 1995 to 2005. H.R. 1139 reinvigorates the highly successful COPS program by:

• Putting 50,000 additional police officers on the street over the next 5 years;
• Authorizing $1.25 billion a year for COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) hiring grants;
• And authorizing $350 million a year for COPS technology grants, and $200 million a year for hiring community prosecutors.

H.R. 1139 is supported by such organizations as Fraternal Order of Police, National Sheriffs’ Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, National Narcotic Officers’ Associations Coalition, National District Attorneys Association, U.S. Conference of Mayors and National League of Cities.

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Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, 202-225-3265
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, 202-225-3265