A new round of funding will allow the city to create more Houston jobs for police officers.
The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services recently awarded a $10 million grant from the COPS Hiring Recovery Program to the City of Houston.
The funding will be used to help the city hire additional police officers and will cover the costs of salary and benefits for 50 new officers during the next three years. Anyone who is hired may have their criminal background checked by the city.
"Your hard work in the city of Houston hasn't gone unnoticed," Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli said of Mayor Annise Parker. "And that's why we are here today - to recognize the work of your police department and help them do even more to protect the people who live and work in this thriving city."
"Today's announcement recognizes that the Houston Police Department is a leader in community policing," Parker said. "We will spend these dollars wisely, continuing the strict fiscal stewardship that has kept Houston from having to follow other major cities in furloughing or laying off police during these tough economic times."
The Houston Police Department is one of only 379 police and sheriff's departments throughout the country. Houston is the only major city in Texas to receive funding from the DOJ and one of only five cities that will receive enough funding to hire 50 officers.
"I am excited to receive grant funds from the Department of Justice to hire 50 additional police officers," Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland said. "This grant shows the cooperative relationship we have with our federal law enforcement partners. This will be a great benefit to the citizens of Houston and the men and women of the Houston Police Department."
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