July 28, 2009

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is pleased to announce the receipt of more than $8.5 million in federal stimulus money as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP). The grant will allow CMPD to hire 50 additional officers in an effort to increase its community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.

Earlier today, Vice President Biden and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the grant that was awarded to law enforcement agencies in all 50 states including Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia and San Francisco. CMPD was one of the few agencies to receive the largest amount of funding and the only agency in North Carolina to receive funding for 50 officers. No agency received funding for more than 50 officers due to the large number of applications.

CHRP grants will provide 100 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly hired, full-time sworn positions.

The process for hiring the additional officers will begin immediately, and the positions will be phased in over several recruit classes during the remainder of the fiscal year. CMPD will also continue to work with City Council to explore options to acquire an additional 75 officers as part of its overall plan to add 125 offices this fiscal year. City Manager Curt Walton will present those options to City Council on August 24.