PROVIDENCE, RI – Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives James Langevin and David Cicilline joined Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza in announcing $1.875 million to help the Providence Police Department add up to 15 more police officers to patrols and fill existing vacancies.

Administered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office, this COPS Hiring Program (CHP) grant will help put more police officers on the streets, reduce crime, and help the city fill budget gaps.  More than $107 million in grants were awarded nationally to nearly 200 law enforcement agencies across the nation.  The program provides salaries and benefits for officer hires for three years.

“These federal funds will help enhance public safety by putting more officers on the streets and improving collaboration between police and the community.  This was a highly competitive application process and I commend Mayor Elorza and Chief Clements for putting together a winning proposal,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee who helped set aside $180 million for the COPS program in the 2015 Appropriations bill, and who supported the city’s grant application.

“Rhode Island police officers and law enforcement officials are on the frontlines every day keeping our communities safe,” said Senator Whitehouse. “This federal grant will strengthen community policing efforts by ensuring the department has the manpower it needs.  I congratulate the Providence Police Department on its successful grant application.”

“Providing public safety services is a core function of government, and in our capital city, with nearly 180,000 residents and many more visitors, it is a significant challenge. Still, despite tightening municipal budgets, the Providence Police Department continues to provide exceptional service,” said Congressman Jim Langevin. “This $1.8 million grant will fund 15 much-needed officer positions and empower Providence Police to continue to serve and protect to the very best of their ability. I am especially pleased with the ongoing emphasis on community policing, a model that has been shown to cultivate strong, resilient relationships between law enforcement and the public, and I am confident that these funds will aid the department in those efforts.”

“Keeping residents and visitors to the Capital city is incredibly important work and I am thrilled that the Providence Police Department will receive more than $1.8 million in federal funds to do their work.  This COPS funding will help strengthen the Police Department, help support community policing, improve crime prevention and ultimately enhance public safety.  Congratulations to Mayor Elorza, Chief Clements and the outstanding men and women of the Providence Police Department on receiving this grant,” said Congressman David Cicilline.

“This funding through the COPS hiring program will provide the Providence Police Department with 15 trained police officers to assist and strengthen community policing efforts throughout Providence,” said Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “These additional officers will increase the capacity of our department so that they are better able to serve and protect our community.  I thank the entire Rhode Island federal delegation for their unwavering support of the Providence Police Department.”

The Providence Police Department currently has 425 sworn officers on the force.

Launched in 1994, the COPS Hiring Program provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire, preserve, and/or rehire police officers and helps local police departments increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.

Over the years, Rhode Island has received more than $51.2 million in COPS grants and local police departments across the state have hired nearly 440 new police officers with support from federal COPS funding.

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