City of Phoenix Receives $3.1 Million Federal Grant to Hire More Police Officers

(Phoenix, Ariz.)  —  The city of Phoenix has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for $3.1 million to hire 25 officers for the police department.  

The COPS Hiring Program (CHP) is a three year grant that will specifically focus on the police department’s efforts to strengthen the relationship between the community and officers. 

 

“Our efforts to enhance and improve police community relations in Phoenix will take a big step forward with the addition of these 25 new officers,” said Mayor Greg Stanton. “Now, Phoenix is in a position to hire nearly 300 new officers by the end of this fiscal year. I am thankful that the Department of Justice chose Phoenix as one of three cities to receive the maximum award.”

 

The Phoenix City Council has made police hiring a top priority.  The police department is currently in a recruitment process to hire more officers and this new grant funding accelerates that hiring to put more officers on duty sooner.  In addition, the recent passage of Proposition 104 in August allows for an additional 125 to be hired this fiscal year.  The new COPS grant will bring the total for this current fiscal year to 295 new officers on the streets of Phoenix by July 1, 2016. 

 

“This is great news for the city of Phoenix and brings us even closer to our goal of achieving the staffing levels we need in our police force,” said Phoenix Councilmember Michael Nowakowski, chairman of the Phoenix Public Safety and Veterans Subcommittee. “With this grant, residents across the city will see a greater presence of police officers to fight crime and keep our neighborhoods safe.”

 

The Phoenix Police officers hired under the COPS grant will be assigned to the department’s Community Relations Bureau allowing the department to now expand that bureau with more resources.  Specific areas of focus include community response squads, the bias crimes unit, police advisory boards and programs focused on teaching young people about careers in law enforcement. 

 

“We are always looking for ways to improve our service and to build a safer Phoenix for our future. The Building Trust Grant announced today by the Community Oriented Policing office is an example of how the Phoenix Police Department understands the power of strong relationships with the community,” said Phoenix Police Chief Joseph Yahner. “Strong relationships with each other allow us to more effectively serve our community.”  

 

When applying for the COPS federal funding, Phoenix Police requested and received 25 officers. This is the second COPS grant awarded to Phoenix in the past two years.  

 

For hiring information including details on how long the process takes, minimum qualifications and the physical and written tests that are involved, click here or call (602) 534-COPS (2677), or email recruiting.ppd@phoenix.gov.