WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman John F. Tierney (D-Salem) today announced that the Town of Wilmington has been awarded a $41,000 U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant. The COPS “Secure Our Schools” grant will support efforts to improve security at schools and provide a safer learning environment for children.

“I am pleased to announce that Wilmington has been awarded a $41,000 federal grant to improve the safety and security of its schools. We continue to hear from local communities that they need additional funds to assist parents, educators and local law enforcement to keep our children safe in schools,” said Congressman Tierney.

The Town of Wilmington will use the grant money to install the network infrastructure for a camera security system that will be sight- and sound-activated at the front door of all eight Wilmington Public Schools. The federal money will be combined with local appropriations to purchase cameras and additional technology needed to support the system.

“We are very pleased to have received the federal grant money because it will allow us to expand our security program and keep our children safe,” said William McAlduff, Superintendent of Wilmington Public Schools.

The Town of Wilmington will also use a portion of the federal grant money to install a card access security system at Wilmington High School. It will serve as a pilot project for the rest of the school system.

“Faculty and staff often use back doors. The card access security system will keep the buildings more secure by allowing faculty and staff to use their identification badge as their ‘key’ to the building,” explained Superintendent McAlduff. “The system will also allow us to determine who and at what time someone has entered the building.”

The COPS Secure Our Schools grants provide up to 50 percent of the total cost for municipalities to install metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other equipment that can deter crime and keep kids safe. In addition to funding school safety projects, COPS supports innovative local community policing initiatives, funds the purchase of crime-fighting technology, provides training and technical assistance resources, and funds the hiring of local law enforcement officers.

“At a time when budgets are tight on the federal, state and local level, I am pleased that the Town of Wilmington presented such a good case in a very competitive environment for federal funds,” concluded Tierney.

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