FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AG
THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1995                           (202) 616-2771
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

     ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO TO ADDRESS VIRGINIA'S NEWEST COPS

     WASHINGTON, D.C.--U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno tomorrow
will deliver the commencement address for 61 of Virginia's newest
law enforcement officers, including 11 cops funded by the crime
bill signed by President Clinton last fall.   The U.S. Senate is
preparing to take up legislation that would scrap the police
hiring program.
     
     WHEN:   1:10 p.m. Friday, April 21

     WHERE:  Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy
             45299 Research Place
             Ashburn, Virginia 
             phone:  703-729-4299

          Directions: From Washington, proceed on the Toll Road
          to Route 28 (Sully Road) North.  After approximately 5
          miles exit and proceed West on Route 7 (Leesburg Pike)
          toward Leesburg.  At the first traffic light on Route
          7 (George Washington Boulevard), make a Right turn.  At
          the very next street (Research Place) make another
          Right turn.  Go to the very end, NVCJA, 45299 Research
          Place.

     Reno will address academy graduates from 12 agencies,
including six Arlington County Police Department officers and five
Alexandria Police Department officers hired with funds provided
through the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.
The bill authorized $8.8 billion for grants to add 100,000 new
community policing officers throughout the country. 

     The Community Oriented Policing Services Program (COPS),
established last October by Attorney General Reno, has within six
months funded or approved new officers to 7,668 jurisdictions
which serve 78 percent of the U.S. population.

     For additional information regarding the COPS program,
contact Leesa Brown at 202-616-1728.

     
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