CHARLESTON. W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), both members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $2,659,835 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for eleven West Virginia programs dedicated to promoting public safety. The funding will help protect West Virginia schools, expand law enforcement hiring capacity, implement community policing strategies and expand access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement.
“It’s great to see communities across West Virginia receive funding I advocated for that will strengthen our police departments, prevent violence in our schools, and support important public safety initiatives. Our dedicated law enforcement departments put service to our state above self every day, and I will continue to fight for the resources they need to do their job safely,” Senator Capito said.
“I am pleased to announce these eleven critical investments from the Department of Justice to strengthen our justice systems and promote public safety across West Virginia,” Senator Manchin said. “The funding announced today will help prevent and respond to crime, as well as improve police effectiveness through increased hiring capacities and community policing strategies. The funding will also bolster safety at our schools and expand access for mental health and wellness services for law enforcement. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to boost our justice systems and ensure the safety of all West Virginians.”
Individual awards listed below:
The COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) provides funding to state and local governments to improve security at schools and on school grounds through evidence-based safety programs and technology.
The COPS Hiring Program (CHP) provides funding to law enforcement agencies to hire and rehire additional career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.
The COPS Community Policing Development (CPD) Program provides funding to law enforcement agencies to implement community policing strategies. These strategies improve the identification and prioritization of community problems and help build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
The COPS Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program provides funding to states and local governments to expand access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through the implementation of peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention and other wellness practices.
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