FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2000

Contact: Josh Freed
(202) 225-4431

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (CO-1) announced today a grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice for the hiring of six full-time police officers for the city of Aurora. The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced the award as part of $140.8 million program to fund the hiring of 1,905 police officers in 54 cities and towns across the nation.

“I am very pleased that the Department of Justice has recognized the needs of our community,” said Rep. Diana DeGette. “Community policing efforts have been very effective across the country, and I am glad that Aurora’s citizens will benefit from this program.”

The COPS program is a congressional initiative to add 100,000 officers to the streets and advance community policing nationwide. Community policing is a crime fighting strategy that encourages law enforcement to work in partnership with the community to solve crime problems. Today’s grants provide funding over a three-year period for 75 percent of the total salary and benefits of each officer hired.
 
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