(WASHINGTON, D.C.)– U.S. Senator Patty Murray today announced that two Washington state communities have been selected to receive a total of $1.125 million in federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants to improve student safety.
The COPS grants will allow Pierce County and Spokane to hire police officers, known as School Resource Officers (SROs), who will be permanently assigned to a school or school system.
The community policing officers will perform a variety of functions from teaching crime prevention and substance abuse classes, to mentoring troubled students and building respect and trust between the law enforcement community and students.
“As a mother and former teacher, one of my top priorities is to keep our children and schools safe and drug free,” Senator Murray said. “Additional officers will make a difference in our school communities by promoting problem solving skills and serving as role models and mentors to troubled students.”
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Murray has worked to provide funding for the COPS program, and was instrumental in restoring the budget cuts proposed by the Bush Administration last year.
The following Washington State police departments will receive federal funding under the COPS in Schools Program:
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department – $375,000
Spokane Police Department – $750,000
TOTAL – $1,125,000
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services is expected to release the funds today.
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