07/28/2009 GAAS:412:09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on California Entities Receiving 21% of Recovery Funding Available Nationally for COPS
California Cities, Counties and Tribes Directly
Awarded Over $211 Million to Hire, Rehire Police Officers
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following
statement after Vice President Joe Biden and the U.S. Department of Justice
awarded over $211 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery
Act) COPS Hiring Recovery Program funds to 109 law enforcement agencies in
California for the purpose of hiring and rehiring of 649 police officers.
Funds were awarded on a competitive basis by the federal government directly to
local entities, with jurisdictions across the nation with populations of
150,000 or more competing against one another for $500 million, and
jurisdictions with populations of less than 150,000 competing for the remaining
$500 million. In support of law enforcement agencies in California, the
Governor recently sent federal officials a letter stressing the urgency for a speedy release of these funds.
"Ensuring the safety of California residents is a top
priority of my Administration - and I want to congratulate local agencies
across California for successfully applying for these Recovery funds," said
Governor Schwarzenegger. "These Recovery funds will save jobs for our brave men
and women in law enforcement and help local departments continue their efforts
in communities across the state."
The $211,192,695 awarded to organizations in California
today represents more than 21 percent of the $1 billion in Recovery Act funds
allocated for the program. California makes up 12 percent of the nation's
population.
Each grant covers 100 percent of the approved entry-level
salary and benefits for sworn officers over a 36-month period. Forty-five
agencies in California, topped by the City of Oakland with a total grant award
of $19,747,117 for 41 officers, were awarded more than $1million. Also
receiving eight-figure grants were the San Francisco Police Department
($16,562,750 for 50 officers), the City of Los Angeles ($16,285,650 for 50
officers), the Riverside County Sheriff's Department ($12,995,750 for 50
deputies) and the City of Fresno ($10,235,445 for 41 officers.)
A complete list of local entities awarded funding is
available at http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/chrp_report.pdf
