Paterson, Passaic and Wayne receive nearly $450K Belleville and Bloomfield receive $100K

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J., 8th) announced that municipalities in the 8th Congressional District have been awarded $543,159 in funding from the Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program to pay for overtime costs that are related to homeland security and other crime fighting activities.

The City of Paterson received $250,000, the City of Passaic received $93,083, the Township of Wayne received $100,000, the Township of Bloomfield received $67,720 and the Township of Belleville received $37,356.  The grants will supplement locally funded officer overtime budgets for one year, and will cover up to 75 percent of the total projected overtime costs for homeland security training, increased homeland security patrols, and other activities related to the prevention of violent or drug related crimes. A 25 percent local cash match is required.

The Homeland Security Overtime Program is a new grant program that was established in response to the ongoing threat of terrorism and the critical role that state and local law enforcement agencies play in preventing and responding to terrorism.

 "Municipalities are facing new costs to ensure safety.  Many departments are short-staffed already, so overtime has become a necessity for increased security.  The COPS program has adapted to the changed need of our communities and continues to help keep the price of safety off of the local taxpayer," said Pascrell, who co-authored a similar program for State of New Jersey while he was the State Legislature, before the federal program was created.

The COPS Office announced $59.5 million in grants to pay for local law enforcement expenses resulting from increased overtime budgets due to homeland security patrols and services.  The grants were awarded under the Homeland Security Overtime Program to 294 law enforcement agencies in 50 states.

Since its creation in 1995, as a part of President Clinton's landmark crime bill, COPS has provided more than $6.9 billion to nearly 13,000 state and local law enforcement agencies to hire over 118,000 officers, deputies, and troopers.  COPS also provides law enforcement agencies with and array of community policing training and technical assistance resources

In his Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Blueprint, President Bush eliminated all funding for the COPS program.  Fortunately, congressional appropriators from both sides of the aisle strongly disagreed and authorized the program at $928 million.  In his Fiscal Year 2004 budget, the President has requested only $158 million for the COPS program, an 83 percent cut.

Congress is currently debating the 2004 funding for the COPS program

Pascrell has long been a supporter of the COPS program, stating at a June press conference, "I cannot believe the President has tried on numerous occasions to gut this highly successful program.  I hear the White House constantly tout its homeland security record, well Mr. President, cops in our communities are the foundation of homeland security."

Pascrell has announced over $12 million dollars in COPS grants in the 8th Congressional District since 1997.

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