Detroit gets $5.7M grant to hire 25 cops

George Hunter/ The Detroit News

Detroit— The city will have 25 more police officers patrolling its streets, thanks to a federal grant announced Friday.

The U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) awarded Detroit a $5.7 million grant to hire new officers.

"This grant will help us increase our presence in the community and continue reducing crime," Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said in a statement.

Detroit was among more than 2,000 applicants for the 2011 COPS Hiring Program. The grant will provide 100 percent funding for entry-level salaries and benefits for 25 Detroit Police Officers.

"The awarding of this grant is evidence that we are aware of our budgetary constraints and are effectively seeking external funding sources," Police Chief Ralph Godbee said. "The Detroit Police Department will relentlessly seek available assistance to increase our manpower and resources, so to provide the citizens of Detroit with the exemplary police service that they require and deserve."

U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow said Thursday COPS grants are also going to three other Michigan police agencies.

Flint is getting $1.23 million for six officers, Redford Township is getting $936,000 for three officers, and Roseville is getting $320,000 for one officer.

The COPS grants cover the full salary and benefits for the officers for three years.

Since 1995, the COPS Office has awarded more than $13 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of about 120,000 officers.