Rep. Johnson announces $920,000 COPS grant for DeKalb County PD

Congressman: Federal funds to help county hire 10 additional officers

LITHONIA, GA — Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, announced today that the DeKalb County Police Department will receive a $920,000 grant from Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office to hire 10 additional police officers.

It is part of funding awards that will go to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded across the country, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions.

“There isn’t anything we do that is more important than supporting local law enforcement and giving them the tools needed to keep our communities safe,” said Johnson, who has voted to protect the COPS program against budget cuts and provided a letter of support for the DeKalb COPS grant. “These funds will help protect our children while they’re at school.”

“In the wake of past tragedies, it’s clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder.

“These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”

DeKalb Police Chief Cedric Alexander said the COPS funding would go a long way in boosting the county’s law enforcement efforts.

“The continued support from our federal partners strengthens the efforts of this department to protect the community, and additional officers on the street is a crucial component to combating crime,” said Chief Alexander.

Since 1995, the COPS program has invested more than $180 million in Georgia law enforcement agencies, which was used to hire more than 2,500 officers and provide more than $25 million in technology upgrades.

Since 2007, Rep. Johnson – a longtime supporter of the COPS program – has helped his district receive nearly $5 million in COPS grants that were used to hire more than 30 additional police officers. In 2012, Johnson helped Newton County receive a $900,000 grant for seven additional officers.

Rep. Johnson has been fighting for local funds for law enforcement since he introduced a bill in 2007 to reauthorize Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program in addition to protecting COPS funding.

For more information, visit https://www.cops.usdoj.gov/.

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