Arlington Police Department has accepted a grant from the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) for funding in the amount of $1,875,000 over three years through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) for 15 police officers.

City Council approved the acceptance of this grant at the evening session on October 13, 2015.

The COPS Hiring Program allows agencies with a service population of less than 1 million people to apply for up to 15 officer positions. With this funding, officers will have the primary goal of increasing citizen-centered, results-oriented community policing and problem-solving partnerships.

Arlington Police Department says these goals will be accomplished through increased communication with citizens by encouraging them to become more involved and invested in their communities and through educational programs and volunteer opportunities.

The grant awards three-year "bridge" funding with the expectation that recipients assume total costs at the end of the funding period and retain hired positions for 12-months after the grant program is completed. Jurisdictions must maintain the positions above their current funded level of sworn officer positions.