September 24, 2014

Congresswoman Lee Announces $3.375 Million to Create and Preserve 27 Law Enforcement Jobs

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee announced $3.375 million in awards from the US Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program.  Attorney General Holder will formally announce the grants on Monday.

Oakland, San Leandro and Alameda County will each receive grants to create and preserve law enforcement officers to increase community policing capacity.

“I am pleased to announce this new federal funding for 27 community-orientated law enforcement officers in our communities,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Especially at this time when departments face high resource constraints, these federal grants help address public safety and promote community-oriented policing.”

These grants will fund 27 new community-orientated officers for East Bay communities.

  • $1.875 million funding fifteen officers in Oakland,
  • $1 million funding eight new officers in Alameda County and
  • $500,000 funding four officers in San Leandro.

“I was pleased to work with Supervisor Carson and Mayors Quan and Cassidy to support these important grants for federal funding to help ease the law enforcement shortage and contribute to public safety,” added Congresswoman Lee.

“We are appreciative to be awarded a COPS grant for the third year in a row,” said Supervisor Keith Carson. “These funds are critical to our ability to provide early intervention and continual support in our communities and further Alameda County’s goal of collaboration and prevention.”

“Oakland is making major progress reducing our most violent crimes and the city is on track to our lowest homicide rate since 1999,” Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said. “This would not be possible without the incredible resources and support we have received from Congresswoman Barbara Lee, COPS Director and former Oakland Police Captain Ron Davis, and all our federal partners. Their commitment is making Oakland safer, and we owe them great thanks. These vital resources will be put to good use, strengthening programs and strategies with proven track records at reducing crime and saving lives in Oakland.”

“We are very grateful to our partners in the U.S. Department of Justice and Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s office for their assistance in securing this substantial grant award” stated Mayor Stephen Cassidy. “This funding will provide tremendous benefits for San Leandro by enabling us to hire additional school resource officers, increasing outreach to local youth, and adding programming within our schools"