WASHINGTON -- Tuesday, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Bakersfield) announced that a total of $5,683,759 million has been awarded to the police departments in Arvin, Bakersfield and Delano to address the full-time sworn police officer needs in those cities. Funding was released through the US Department of Justice COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP) made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“Our police departments have been hit hard by the sluggish economy, so these grants could not come at a better time,” Costa said. “We need to ensure our city streets and neighborhoods remain safe, and federal investment in our local police departments is one of the best ways to deter crime.”

Arvin Police Department: $198,501: 1 Officer Awarded

Bakersfield Police Department: $5,062,124: 17 Officers Awarded

City of Delano: $423,134: 2 Officers Awarded

CHRP grants will provide 100 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly-hired, full-time sworn officer positions (including filling existing unfunded vacancies) or for rehired officers who have been laid off, or are scheduled to be laid off on a future date, as a result of local budget cuts.

Police departments receiving the grants will then be required to retain the grant funded positions for a fourth year. The funding provides much needed support to state and local government budgets, and will help the nation’s law enforcement agencies add and retain the manpower needed to fight crime more effectively through community policing.