Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois law enforcement agencies will receive a total of $12,533,250 in funding from the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to hire 85 new full-time law enforcement professionals, including 50 in Chicago. This funding is part of a nationwide announcement of more than $139 million in COPS Hiring Program (CHP) grants to 180 agencies across the nation.
“Ensuring local law enforcement have enough staff to serve their communities is foundational to public safety,” said Duckworth. “I’m glad to join Senator Durbin in announcing this federal support to help keep our communities and families safe and protected.
“Today’s announced federal grants will help communities around Illinois hire and train law enforcement officers without putting an extra burden on local budgets,” Durbin said. “By investing in community policing efforts, we can improve public safety and build stronger relationships between local law enforcement professionals and the neighborhoods they serve.”
The following Illinois law enforcement agencies have been awarded 2021 CHP grants:
- City of Alton: $250,000 to hire 2 officers
- City of Calumet: $1,433,250 to hire 5 officers
- City of Chicago: $6,250,000 to hire 50 officers
- City of DeKalb: $375,000 to hire 3 officers
- Village of Forest Park: $375,000 to hire 3 officers
- Village of Justice: $375,000 to hire 3 officers
- Village of Midlothian: $375,000 to hire 3 officers
- Village of Norridge: $250,000 to hire 2 officers
- Village of Riverdale: $625,000 to hire 5 officers
- Village of Stickney: $500,000 to hire 4 officers
- City of Zion: $1,725,000 to hire 5 officers
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing by providing direct funding for the hiring of career law enforcement officers. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.
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