May 25, 2009

The Recovery Act included $1 billion for the COPS Hiring Recovery Program, which could be used to hire new sworn officers, rehire those who had been laid off, or keep on board officers slated to be laid off. That funding is expected to be sufficient to hire 5,500 officers. During the program’s one-month solicitation period the COPS Office received 7,272 applications totaling $8.3 billion and requesting more than 39,000 sworn law enforcement positions. The Office currently is reviewing these proposals. All awards will be made by September 30.