crime rate

Description

Philadelphia, June 25, 2012 -- Mayor Michael A. Nutter, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, and Bernard Melekian, Director of the Community Oriented Policing Services Office (COPS), announced that the City of Philadelphia was one of more than 220 cities and counties to receive a COPS grant. The grant will partially fund the salary and benefits of 25 police officers through a three year, $3.125 million award. 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. "The Department of Justice's COPS grant will help Philadelphia to hire highly qualified, committed officers who will work in the neighborhoods that need their presence the most," said Mayor Nutter. "This COPS grant will help the City to improve public safety, lower the crime rate and continue the policies that work. I would like to thank our Congressional delegation, Attorney General Holder, Director Melekian and the entire team at the Department of Justice for choosing to invest in the Philadelphia Police Department." More than $111 million is being awarded nationally to local public safety agencies across the country. The list of this year's grantees includes Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Atlanta, GA; Trenton, NJ; Alameda County and Los Angeles, CA; Akron, OH; and Tacoma, WA. The COPS Office will work with Veteran Affairs transition service centers across the country to connect veterans with the new grant-funded law enforcement opportunities. "This new opportunity for veterans is a commitment to support those who are coming home from their tour of duty," said Bernard Melekian, COPS Office Director. "We sincerely hope this effort encourages our veterans to continue to protect and serve the United States through new law enforcement careers."