The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced grants totaling $20.7 million to add 194 officers to the nation’s schools. The grants are being awarded to 111 law enforcement agencies in 42 states and Puerto Rico through the COPS In Schools program, which funds the hiring of police officers who are assigned to a school as their community policing beat.

The grants provide a maximum of $125,000 toward the salary and benefits of each new School Resource Officer (SRO) over three years. COPS also delivers training on school safety issues for each new SRO and an administrator from the school to which the officer is assigned. The training includes topics ranging from developing emergency response plans and conducting safety assessments of schools, to child development and cultural fluency.

COPS in Schools Awards in Arkansas’ First Congressional District:

·                    Independence County Sheriff’s Department: $125,000 to fund one full time position

·                    Marmaduke Police Department: $112,559 to fund one full time and one part time position

·                    West Memphis Police Department: $312,285 to fund three full time positions

Other COPS Awards:

·                    City of Flippin: $92,595 to fund one full time position

·                    Texarkana Police Department: $235,916 to fund two full time positions