[StBernard] NOPD, St. Bernard Sheriff Win 'COPS' Sweepstakes

[Westley Annis]

NOPD, St. Bernard Sheriff Win 'COPS' Sweepstakes
Local Agencies Will Receive Millions Of Dollars For New Officers
  

Several local police forces are in line to receive funding to put new
officers on the street, the federal government announced Tuesday.

Among the big winners: the New Orleans Police Department and St. Bernard
Sheriff's Office.

They are among 12 Louisiana agencies chosen for funds distributed through
the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program, or "COPS."

The White House says the program will keep officers on the beat during tough
economic times. But only about 1,000 of the 7,000 departments that applied
for funds received any.

In New Orleans, the $2.5 million grant will cover costs associated with 15
officers. In St. Bernard, $1.9 million will go toward the expenses of 14
deputies.

Other area departments received smaller grants. They include: Dillard
University, Gretna, Kenner, the Villiage of Tangipahoa, and the Gulfport
Police Department and Biloxi School District in Mississippi.

The City of Shreveport actually received the largest grant among Louisiana
and Mississippi agencies -- enough to fund 27 officers.

The grants provide 100 percent of the approved salary and benefits for entry
level officer positions over a three year period. Departments must retain
the grant-funded positions for a fourth year.

A total of about $1 billion was available through the COPS program. Some of
the nation's largest cities -- including New York and Houston -- saw their
requests for money denied.