Politics & Government

COPS in Schools Grants Would Make Comeback Under GOP-Proposed Legislation

Shelby Township's U.S. Rep. Candice Miller has signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation that would reinstate the federal COPS in Schools grant program to the tune of $30 million a year.

A group of Republican legislators, including Shelby Township’s U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, is breathing new life into a Clinton-era grant program designed to support community policing in an effort to combat school violence.

The COPS in Schools grant program premiered under President Bill Clinton in April 1999, and awarded more than $753 million during its six-year existence to help local law enforcement agencies hire 6,500 school resource officers to “engage in community policing in and around primary and secondary schools,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice

On Feb. 15, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) introduced H.R. 751, also called The Protect America’s Schools Act, in Congress. The legislation would revitalize the COPS grant program to the tune of $30 million per year.

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Miller, a Republican serving Michigan’s 10th congressional district, which includes Shelby Township, announced that she would co-sponsor the legislation on Monday.

“The Newtown, Connecticut tragedy was a heinous act that calls all of us to action to prevent such senseless violence in the future,” Miller said in a statement. “While some have attempted to focus this debate on actions that would not have prevented Newtown and would restrict the constitutional rights of law abiding citizens, I believe the focus of our efforts must be on what is most important – actually protecting our children.”

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“To accomplish this goal I have signed on as a co-sponsor of the Protect America’s Schools Act which would reinstate the Cops in Schools program …”

The original grant program provided a maximum federal contribution of up to $125,000 per officer position for approved salary and benefit costs over a three-year grant period. Any remaining costs were to be paid by local agencies.

The proposed legislation, if passed, would award up to $30 million a year in grants.

Funding for this program would be offset by taking unspent funds from other federal agencies and not add to the federal deficit, Miller said.

The bill has been sent to the House Committee on Appropriations for review.

In the meantime, Shelby Township will continue its own “community policing” program implemented by Police Chief Roland Woelkers several weeks ago.

Under this new initiative, Shelby Township officers are assigned to a specific patrol area where they are required to make direct contact with schools, businesses and senior centers. The initiative has also assigned a second liaison officer to work in elementary school buildings specifically.

In other efforts to increase school security, to purchase security camera equipment that, combined with an audio component and latch-release function, will allow main office personnel to control the entry of visitors to elementary and middle school buildings.

The district’s high schools currently feature security cameras and visitors are either greeted at the main entrance or directed through the main office prior to entering the core area of the school. Full-time security officers also staff all Utica high schools.

Installation of these additional security components was due to begin once the necessary materials became available.


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