Wilson Announces COPS Grant for SC to Hire More Police Officers

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., today applauded SC law enforcement agencies on receiving an estimated $1.5 million dollar hiring grant from the U.S. Department of Justice."Public safety and community security is our top priority, and it starts with our local law enforcement," said Rep. Wilson. "More officers patrolling our streets and protecting our communities is good news for the people of South Carolina. Local police officers are our first line of defense, and this grant will give them the help and support they need. It's a step in the right direction."The estimated $1.5 million grant, which was awarded by the Department of Justice through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), came available under the COPS Universal Hiring Program (UHP). The funds are to be directed towards the hiring of at least 20 new officers, used for up to 75 percent of the total salary and benefits of each new officer over the next three years, up to a maximum of $75,000 per officer.This grant is part of a national program that will direct $128 million to law enforcement agencies across the United States and has funded the hiring of 1746 police officers in 367 cities and towns. Since 1995, COPS has funded the hiring of more than 114,000 officers, and it has aided more than 12,400 law enforcement agencies in making their communities safer by adding more police officers to the streets of America.###