FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 21, 2002
CONTACT: LINDA MACIAS/PAUL TODD (202) 225-6161

Justice Department announces grant to local police force

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced yesterday that it has awarded a grant to the City of Colton under the COPS in Schools program. The grant will provide Colton with up to $125,000 to pay for the salary and benefits of a new police officer that will be assigned to a local school.

COPS officers provide a law enforcement presence at schools, and also teach crime prevention and substance abuse classes, coach sports teams, and counsel troubled students. The officers are known at the schools as School Resource Officers (SRO), and are permanently assigned to local schools in their communities. So far, the COPS in Schools program has allocated over $562 million in funds to hire and train more than 4987 SRO's across the country.

"Students in our community cannot learn and grow if they are constantly fearful of crime, even violent crime, in their schools," said Representative Joe Baca (D-Rialto). "The COPS in Schools program is a great way to help our students feel safe and foster respect among our youth for law enforcement."

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