Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2010

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $1.1 MILLION IN COPS PROGRAM MONEY COMING TO CITY OF BINGHAMTON TO PUT MORE COPS ON THE BEAT

Schumer Was One of the Original Sponsors of COPS Program

Federal Program Puts More Cops on Beat, Keeps Communities Safe

With Federal Dollars City of Binghamton Will Hire 4 Police Officers

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, author of the 1994 Crime Bill that created the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, announced that $1,134,464 in federal COPS program funding would be coming to the City of Binghamton to put more cops on the beat by allowing the city to hire four new officers. The funding will pay their salary for 3 years.

“At a time of tight budgets, hiring and retaining police officers is exactly the type of investment that the federal government should be making,” Schumer said. “This effort will increase safety in Binghamton and ensure that the police have the resources they need to work effectively.

“This grant will allow us to bolster our public safety services at no cost to the local taxpayer,” said Mayor of Binghamton Matthew T. Ryan said. “In today’s difficult economic conditions, any aid for our essential services is critically important, and I thank Senator Schumer for his tireless efforts to put these funds to work for all our citizens.”

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) is a component of the US Department of Justice. The COPS Office awards grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to hire and train community policing professionals, acquire cutting-edge crime-fighting technologies, and develop and test innovative policing strategies.

Binghamton will use the over $1.1 million in federal funds to create four officer positions. Putting these cops on the street will increase public safety in the city and reduce the strain that a short-staffed department would have on the rest of the police force.

Senator Schumer was one of the original sponsors of the bill that created the COPS hiring competitive grant program. This program awards grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to hire and train police officers, acquire and deploy new, crime-fighting technologies. The program provides training and technical assistance for all levels of law enforcement. The COPS funding is distributed through a wide range of programs, including grants and cooperative agreements.

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