September 21st, 2015 by WCBC Radio

The Department of Justice has announced a $500,000 grant to the Hagerstown Police Department (HPD) for the purpose of hiring additional officers. The multi-year grant, part of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program will fund four new officers.

“I’m proud to announce this federal COPS Hiring Grant to the Hagerstown Police Department. Thanks to this federal support, HPD will be able to hire additional officers, which will have a big impact on public safety,” said Congressman Delaney. “This should have a tangible impact in Hagerstown, because there’s nothing more fundamental to law enforcement than having enough officers to do the job. Hagerstown’s population has grown 10% since 2000 and the city faces increased law enforcement challenges, including combating heroin and other narcotics. The men and women of the Hagerstown Police Department protect our community every day and this grant will help the Department continue to serve us.”

The COPS Hiring Program (CHP) is designed to advance public safety through community policing by addressing the full-time sworn officer needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire career law enforcement officers and to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.