Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded a $1.87 million COPS Hiring Program Grant to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The new federal funding, which Congressman Clay supported, will allow the department to hire (15) additional police officers.
"I want to personally thank President Obama and Attorney General Lynch for supporting my efforts to focus federal funding to help the St. Louis Police Department tackle gun violence and a surge in homicides," said Mr. Clay. "This grant is a good beginning as I continue to pursue additional DOJ funding for more personnel, better training and support. and body cameras for all officers."
The COPS Hiring Program (CHP) is designed to advance public safety through community policing by addressing the full-time sworn officer needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire career law enforcement officers and to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.