Camden, Wildwood get funding to hire police
The Camden County Police Department is getting $2.1 million to hire more officers, authorities announced Monday, as part of a nationwide award from the federal government.
The Camden County Police Department is getting $2.1 million to hire more officers, authorities announced Monday, as part of a nationwide award from the federal government.
The U.S. Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) is giving $107 million to departments around the nation, about $5.1 million of which is going to four departments in New Jersey.
The grant will pay for 15 officers to be hired in Camden, according to the New Jersey U.S. Attorney's Office. The Wildwood and East Orange Police Departments also will receive some funding, as well as the Essex County Sheriff's Office.
The COPS hiring program provides funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly hired, full-time sworn officer positions, or for rehired officers who have been laid off or are scheduled to be laid off as a result of local budget cuts.
"Today is the continuation of a promise both to law enforcement and the community," U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D., N.J.) said in a statement. "This is a promise that began on 9/11 and continues as long as we're representing New Jersey."
Five Pennsylvania municipalities, including Chester and Harrisburg, also received funding through the program this year, according to the office.
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