The Department of Justice today announced $2.2 million in grant funding to law enforcement agencies and stakeholders through the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Community Policing Development (CPD) Microgrants Program. COPS Office Director Phil Keith announced 29 awards with award amounts ranging from $15,090 to $100,000.
In the Northern District of Alabama, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department received $15,090 to support the Cherokee County Youth Engagement Project.
“I am pleased to announce that the Department of Justice has awarded this grant to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department,” Town said. “This grant allows for the focus on advanced community policing strategies as law enforcement continues to find creative ways to build strong relationships with the community. I am thankful to the Department of Justice and COPS Director Phil Keith for recognizing the need for these resources in the Northern District of Alabama.”
“We are excited that we have been awarded this grant by the Department of Justice,” said Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver.” “The Sheriff’s Office is committed to working with our youth and the funding will be utilized by our SROs to focus on that work.”
“The CPD Microgrants Program is a critical resource to advance innovative community policing projects across the country,” said Director Keith. “These strategic investments from the COPS Office pay huge dividends to state and local law enforcement agencies and the communities that they serve.”
CPD Microgrants Program funds are used to develop the capacity of local, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies to implement community policing strategies. Applicants were invited to propose demonstration or pilot projects to be implemented in their agency that offer creative ideas to advance crime fighting, community engagement, problem solving, or organizational changes to support community policing in one of the following areas:
- Human Trafficking
- Meeting Rural Law Enforcement Challenges
- Officer Safety and Wellness
- Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention
- School Safety
- Staffing and Allocation Studies
- Victim-Centered Approaches
- Violent Crime
- Youth Engagement
Funding through this program is available for the first time since 2018, following the successful removal of a nationwide injunction. These awards are being announced at a critical time for our country, when community policing strategies are very much needed to improve police and community relations.