WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced today that the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is awarding $62,975 to the Town of Lake Arthur for the hiring of additional law enforcement officers and $500,000 to the Calcasieu Parish School Board for school security improvements.
The COPS office was created after the passage of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to advance effective policing practices through direct award of competitive discretionary grants to law enforcement agencies across the United States. The grants engage and support law enforcement agencies to advance public safety to protect the communities that they serve.
The grant funding includes:
· $62,975 to the Town of Lake Arthur for the hiring of entry-level career law enforcement officers to create and preserve jobs and increase crime prevention efforts.
· $500,000 to the Calcasieu Parish School Board for the improvements to security at schools and on school grounds.
“This funding is welcome news. I have spent most of my career dedicated to uniformed service. My Brothers and Sisters of the Thin Blue Line risk their lives every day. They deserve respect and proper funding to protect the communities that they serve,” said Congressman Higgins. “Our nation has seen a steep rise in crime over the past few years and recruitment numbers are down nationwide for officers. Now more than ever they need our help.”
