Van Nuys, CA - Rep. Howard L. Berman (CA-28) announced today $16, 285,650 for the City of Los Angeles and $674,978 for the City of San Fernando to fund the hiring and rehiring of law enforcement officers under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The grants will be administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) through the federal agency’s COPS Hiring Recovery Program, and will be awarded to the two law enforcement agencies that will provide 50 officers for the City of Los Angeles and 2 officers for the City of San Fernando.

“This money – which comes to the LAPD and San Fernando Police Department – will permit the hiring of additional sworn law enforcement officers, which are sorely needed by both departments,” said Rep. Berman.

The grants will provide 100 percent of the approved salary and benefits for entry level officer positions over a three year period.  Police departments receiving the grants will then be required to retain the grant funded positions for a fourth year.  

The funding provides much needed support to state and local government budgets, and will help the nation’s law enforcement agencies add and retain the manpower needed to fight crime more effectively through community policing.

For more information about the grants, or to learn which law enforcement agencies received funding, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov.