Today, September 21, 2015, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and Chief of Police Sam Somers Jr. announced $1.875 million in federal funding has been awarded to the Sacramento Police Department. This grant is the largest award possible and will enable the hiring of 15 police officers to protect and serve the City of Sacramento. The program provides salaries and benefits to hire new officers for three years. In addition, $599 thousand was awarded from the Justice Assistance Grant for body-worn cameras.

“It’s a great day for Sacramento as we continue to build trust and improve relationships between the community and our police department through our Officer Next Door initiative,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. “To receive these two major federal grants is recognition of the leadership in our community and our commitment to being a model for community policing across the nation.”    

These federal grants are made available through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. The COPS Hiring Program is a competitive grant program that provides funding directly to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire, re-hire, or retain police officers dedicated to addressing specific crime and disorder challenges confronting communities.

“This funding will increase staffing and ensure our officers are equipped with the latest technology to meet the policing needs of the future,” said Sacramento Chief of Police Sam Somers Jr. “This will ultimately help us carry out the vision of the Officer Next Door initiative.  Thank you to Congresswoman Matsui for her continued leadership and support in making Sacramento the Safest Big City in California.”