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Congressman Fattah Joins Holder, Nutter to Announce $3.1 Million Grant for More Philadelphia Police Officers

Press Release

Date: June 25, 2012
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Issues: Infrastructure Criminal Justice

Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) joined Attorney General Eric Holder and Mayor Michael Nutter today to announce that Philadelphia will receive $3.125 million under the COPS program, a national success story that will put more police officers on the streets of Philadelphia.

Fattah is the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies that oversees funding for the COPS program and the Department of Justice.

"As the Ranking Member on Appropriations for the Department of Justice, the COPS program is one of my highest priorities," Fattah said. "This national program will provide $111.2 million to municipalities across the country, including $3.125 million for Philadelphia specifically.

"These important federal resources will help Philadelphia bridge the gap between its tight budget and the need for a robust police force," Fattah said. "Making communities safer is a responsibility that must be shared by all levels of government and I'm pleased that Philadelphia is receiving this funding."

Fattah said the grant from COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) will cover the salaries and benefits for new officers -- who must be post 9/11 military veterans -- or to retain or rehire officers, regardless of veteran status, who would otherwise be off the streets because of a tight municipal budget.

Attorney General Holder traveled to Philadelphia to announce Philadelphia's award and to make public the Justice Department's COPS grants of $111.2 million to 221 law enforcement agencies. Joining Holder for the announcement at City Hall were Nutter, Fattah, Congressman Bob Brady, other elected and law enforcement officials.

The COPS program -- an initiative of President Clinton that Congressman Fattah has advocated for since his first term in Congress -- has provided resources to hire and redeploy about 120,000 police officers nationwide since 1995.


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