Senator Mark Pryor Press Releases

Washington – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and Representative Vic Snyder (AR-02) today announced that the Little Rock Police Department will receive $525,000 to hire seven new officers. The funds will provide up to 75 percent of the officers’ total salary and benefits for three years; state or local funds pay the remainder. The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

“Keeping crime to a minimum can be a challenge for police departments that are inadequately funded. With this grant, the Little Rock Police Department will be able to hire additional qualified officers to help keep the city safe for residents and visitors. I’m pleased to see our state receive this money,” said Lincoln.

“It’s essential that we place additional cops on the beat before violence and crime takes place,” said Pryor. “Utilizing these federal funds to hire seven new officers is a proactive approach that will help the Little Rock Police Department keep Arkansas families and businesses safe.”

“Additional police officers tremendously impact a community,” said Congressman Snyder. “Today’s awards help the Little Rock Police Department hire 7 new policing professionals and advance our community safety.”

COPS grants are intended to enhance the community policing capacity of local law enforcement agencies that have a combination of high crime rates and a low officer to citizen ratio as reported through the national Uniform Crime Report.

Since 1995, COPS has funded the hiring of nearly 117,000 police officers and developed numerous technical assistance resources for law enforcement. All jurisdictions that receive grants must retain COPS-funded officer positions for at least one complete budget cycle following the three-year federal funding period.

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		September 11, 2008 Press Release Little Rock Police Department Receives Funding To Hire Seven New Officers Washington – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and Representative Vic Snyder (AR-02) today announced that the Little Rock Police Department will receive $525,000 to hire seven new officers. The funds will provide up to 75 percent of the officers’ total salary and benefits for three years; state or local funds pay the remainder. The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). “Keeping crime to a minimum can be a challenge for police departments that are inadequately funded. With this grant, the Little Rock Police Department will be able to hire additional qualified officers to help keep the city safe for residents and visitors. I’m pleased to see our state receive this money,” said Lincoln. “It’s essential that we place additional cops on the beat before violence and crime takes place,” said Pryor. “Utilizing these federal funds to hire seven new officers is a proactive approach that will help the Little Rock Police Department keep Arkansas families and businesses safe.” “Additional police officers tremendously impact a community,” said Congressman Snyder. “Today’s awards help the Little Rock Police Department hire 7 new policing professionals and advance our community safety.” COPS grants are intended to enhance the community policing capacity of local law enforcement agencies that have a combination of high crime rates and a low officer to citizen ratio as reported through the national Uniform Crime Report. Since 1995, COPS has funded the hiring of nearly 117,000 police officers and developed numerous technical assistance resources for law enforcement. All jurisdictions that receive grants must retain COPS-funded officer positions for at least one complete budget cycle following the three-year federal funding period. ###