FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AG SEPTEMBER 16, 1994 (202) 616-2771 AG RENO ATTENDS POLICE OFFICER SWEARING-IN WHILE IN PHOENIX Force Gets New Officers Thanks To DOJ Award WASHINGTON, D.C. -- During her visit to Phoenix today, Attorney General Janet Reno will help Police Chief Dennis Garrett swear in eight new community officers hired from a Department of Justice grant Phoenix received under the Police Hiring Supplement Program. The more than $2 million award will eventually add a total of 28 new officers to the Phoenix force. The event will be held at: 3 p.m. Friday, September 16 Phoenix Police Department, 4th Floor Chief's Conference Room 620 W. Washington Phoenix Mayor Williams, Senator DeConcini, Representative Coppersmith and others will participate in the event. After the swearing-in ceremony, Reno will be available to the press for a few minutes. Last year, Congress appropriated $150 million for a Police Hiring Supplement to assist cities in adding community police officers. The Justice Department received more than 2,000 applications from communities across the country, and approximately 250 cities were awarded funding, including Phoenix. More than 2,000 officers were funded through the supplement, which was considered a down payment on President Clinton's pledge to put an additional 100,000 community police officers on the streets. The recently passed Crime Bill contains $8.8 billion in funding for additional community police officers and Phoenix will be able to apply for money under this program as well. # # # 94-529