(Miami, FL) Vice President Joseph Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder today announced that the City of Miami Police Department will receive $11,086,850 in grants to fund the hiring of 50 police officers under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, administered through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS.)

“As leaders of government, it is our fundamental obligation to provide for the security of our citizenry. The COPS Program is an integral part of providing our citizens with the safety they deserve. I am thankful to Vice President Joe Biden for his role in reviving the COPS program and making it a key component of the recovery plan,” said Miami Mayor Manny Diaz.

The funds are part of $1 billion in grants to fund the hiring and rehiring of 4,699 law enforcement officers under ARRA. 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 1046 law enforcement agencies from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.

“I was thrilled by the Vice President’s announcement today.  It could not have come at a better time given the tough economic times we face.  It will mean additional funds for police officers for the City of Miami which will assist us in continuing to provide a safe city for our citizens and those who work and visit our beautiful city,” said Miami Police Chief John Timoney.

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 http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/. For more information on how ARRA funds are being used in the City of Miami, please visit http://www.recoverymiami.com/.

U.S. Department of Justice Press Contact:
Gilbert L. Moore
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
U.S. Department of Justice
202-616-9602
gilbert.moore@usdoj.gov