Gov. O’Malley, VP Biden announce funding to support law enforcement
Communities across Maryland will be safer over the course of the next three years. Announced today at an event in Philadelphia, grants from the economic stimulus package will fully fund 112 Maryland law enforcement officers' salaries and benefits for the next three years.
Governor Martin O'Malley was proud to join Vice President Joe Biden, Attorney General Eric Holder and four other governors to announce the grant program. The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) branch of the Department of Justice will administer the grants.
"We saw the value of COPS program first hand in the City of Baltimore," said Governor O'Malley. "Once the nation's most violent and drug addicted City in America, we worked with law enforcement and the people of our City to take our streets and neighborhoods back for our families. And together we achieved a 40 percent reduction in violent crime."
Eight police departments in Maryland will benefit from the COPS Hiring Recovery Program:
- Baltimore - 50 positions
- Bladensburg - 1 position
- Cambridge - 2 positions
- Laurel - 3 positions
- Prince George's County - 50 positions
- Princess Anne - 1 position
- Riverdale - 1 position
- Salisbury - 4 positions
O'Malley impressed upon the importance of keeping Maryland's families and communities safe:
"There is no greater or more solemn obligation we have as public servants than the protection of our citizens. Thanks to the leadership of President Obama and our federal delegation, local law enforcement agencies have an unprecedented opportunity to create or save jobs that directly impact the safety of our neighborhoods."
In addition to the COPS program, Governor O'Malley and the Maryland legislature have allocated an additional $10,000 of economic stimulus money for the purchase of radios, bullet-proof vests, computers and other equipment to support the new officers.
Tell us what you think about Gov. O'Malley's efforts to build a safer Maryland.
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Tags: Annapolis, Fiscal Responsibility , Building a Safer Maryland, Public Safety, Washington
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The effects of the nation's economic hardship are hitting Maryland hard. We're fighting every day to protect Maryland’s families during these tough economic times. We’re also working every day to make sure that government and its programs work for people.
