National law enforcement grants to help hire veterans - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

National law enforcement grants to help hire veterans

Posted:
By Ben Moore, Newsgatherer - bio | email

The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) on Monday announced funding awards to over 220 cities and counties, aimed at creating or saving approximately 800 law enforcement positions, according to a news release.

The grants will fund more than 600 new law enforcement positions and save an additional 200 positions recently lost or in jeopardy of being cut due to local budget cuts. 

All new law enforcement positions funded in the COPS 2012 Hiring Program must be filled by recent military veterans who have served at least 180 days since September 11, 2001.

More than $111 million is being awarded to local public safety agencies across the country. 

The public safety funding includes more than $428,000 for the Southern District of West Virginia. 

Two positions were awarded to the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office totaling $242,142; one position to the Summersville Police Department  in Nicholas County for $116,219; and, one position to the Town of Quinwood in Greenbrier County for $69,662.

The COPS Office will work with transition centers across the country to connect veterans with the new grant-funded law enforcement opportunities. 

For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2012 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.