New York's Senator
CHARLES E. SCHUMER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2000

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $92 MILLION POLICE GRANT FOR NYC

COPS Grant Will Put 1,230 New Police Officers On NYC Streets

US Senator Charles E. Schumer, author of the 1994 Crime Bill, today announced that New York City has been awarded a $92,250,000 federal grant under the bill's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Universal Hiring Program (UHP). The money will enable New York City to hire 1,230 community police officers as part of the bill's aim to add new cops to the beat.

"This is a program that is vitally important to the safety of our neighborhoods and schools. In order to combat crime effectively, police departments must have the manpower to reach every corner of every neighborhood. This funding will ensure that they have the resources to help make that happen," Schumer said.

Last year, COPS funding was not included in the original version of the FY2000 Commerce-Justice- State Appropriations Bill and Schumer co-authored an amendment to the bill that provided $495 million for the program, re-funding this crucial part of the 1994 Crime Bill. Schumer's efforts resulted in a final funding level of $595 million for the COPS office, including about $209 million for the COPS UHP. New York City will receive almost half of the funds allocated to the UHP for FY2000.

"Since its inception, the COPS program has helped pay for 10,225 new police officers in New York State. New York City has already hired 3,500 police officers through the UHP and numerous other towns and cities across New York have received grants to increase safety and security," said Schumer. "I am delighted that we have succeeded in keeping this crucial program alive another year and that New York City will be one of the prime beneficiaries."

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