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for larger version       Weiner Rallies In Support Of COPS Congressman Anthony D. Weiner (D/L-Brooklyn & Queens), a bipartisan group of his House colleagues and officers from local and national law enforcement groups today rallied in support of the hugely successful federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. Congressman Weiner also announced the introduction of the $1.15 billion, six-year COPS reauthorization bill with over 150 original co-sponsors from both parties. The COPS program, started as part of the 1994 Crime Act, has provided funding for the 110,733 police officers in more than 12,400 cities, counties and law enforcement jurisdictions around the United States. The COPS program also funds technology upgrades to police precincts and patrol cars, cops in schools and hires civilians to fill precinct desk jobs, freeing up trained officers to walk a neighborhood beat. The COPS program has been an overwhelming success in New York City since its implementation in 1995, providing $529 million to the NYPD to hire 7,357 new officers, train officers and establish computer systems. COPS civilian funding has to date paid $25 million for the placement of 1,870 civilian employees in New York City police departments to handle such tasks as filing, fingerprinting, dispatching emergency services and administrative assistant duties. The introduction of these civilians into the police department has freed up more than 1,000 trained police officers to work in the field. The current Bush budget cuts the COPS program by $182 million, eliminating the "Universal Hiring" and civilian hiring programs. By eliminating the civilian hiring program, the Bush budget leaves New York City responsible for $12.5 million for the 500 civilians who currently rely on the federal government for their salaries. Weiner’s COPS reauthorization bill would authorize $1.15 billion for the COPS program every year until 2007, fully funding both the universal and civilian hiring programs. "The COPS program is not a big city or little city problem," said Weiner. "It’s not an East coast or West coast program. And it’s not a Republican or Democratic program. The program has benefited over 12,000 law enforcement agencies around our country, from the biggest to the smallest, and has been instrumental in the rapid drop in the crime around the country and in New York City. Law enforcement agencies around the country continue to clamor for police hiring funds. To eliminate this key element of the COPS program would be a major setback for crime fighting nationwide." The program is supported by local and national law enforcement groups nationwide, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
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