Schumer Announces $150,000 Cops Grant For Newburgh

US Senator Charles E. Schumer author of the 1994 Crime Bill today announced that the Town of Newburgh Police Department has received a $150,000 federal grant from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. The money will be used to hire two new fulltime officers as part of the bills goal to add new cops to the beat.

As we fight the war on terrorism, its vital that we ensure that our day to day crime fighting efforts continue, Schumer said. These grants will help local police departments fulfill their mission of keeping our streets safe. The Newburgh Police Department has been doing everything it can to fight gangs and other crime, and this will help them even further in those efforts."

The Universal Hiring Program (UHP) was created to increase the number of police officers on the street while enabling those interested agencies to supplement their sworn forces through three year federal grants. Funds awarded to law enforcement agencies through the COPS Universal Hiring Program provide up 75% of the total salary and benefits of each new officer for three years, and up to a maximum of $75,000 per officer with state or local funds paying the remainder. Those jurisdictions that receive funding must submit and adhere to a plan to retain COPSfunded officer positions for at least one complete budget cycle after federal funding has ended.

In February, Schumer unveiled sweeping legislation which he will be introducing with a bipartisan group of senators that would give prosecutors tough new tools to go after gang activity in Newburgh, where hundreds of gang members have been identified by local law enforcement. Schumer said that in light of the occurrence of gang activity in the area it is vital that law enforcement be beefed up with more personnel.