FEDERAL GRANT WILL FUND HIRING OF ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman John L. Mica (R-7th District) today announced that the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office will receive $150,000 in federal assistance to hire additional law enforcement officers. The funds will be provided through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
"The Federal Government recognizes the critical need for community policing," stated Rep. Mica. "Flagler County is one of the fastest growing counties in the country, and this grant will provide significant assistance and resources to Sheriff Manfre and his staff as they work to serve our community."
The grant will be administered through the COPS Universal Hiring Program, which helps law enforcement agencies pay the salary and benefits of additional officers who will perform community policing and homeland security activities. The federal funds will permit the Sheriff’s Office to fill two full-time positions.
The program provides up to 75% of the total cost of salary and benefits of each new officer for three years, up to a maximum of $75,000 per officer. Local funds pay the remainder, and each grantee is required to retain the new positions for a minimum of one local budget cycle after the grant funds expire.
Since 1995, COPS has helped nearly 13,000 law enforcement agencies make their communities safer by funding the hiring of more than 118,000 officers.