East Orange, NJ Receives $4.357 Million in Federal Funding for Police Enforcement and Community Policing

Strategic Insights -

A significant boost in funding for police enforcement and community policing was announced in East Orange, New Jersey, as part of a larger effort to enhance public safety in the region. The program, which includes $1.5 million for the East Orange Police Department, $750,000 for the Essex County Sheriff's Office, and $594,023 for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, aims to put more police officers on the streets, enhance narcotics and gang enforcement operations, and invest in innovative community policing initiatives.

Key Takeaways:

  • The funding, totaling $4,357,166, was awarded to East Orange and Essex County through the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program.
  • The COPS Hiring Program (CHP) awards will allow the East Orange Police Department to hire 12 new school resource officers, while the Essex County Sheriff's Office will hire 6 new officers.
  • The COPS Anti-Gang Initiative (CAGI) awards will provide funding to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Jersey City, and the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety to address gang activity and target gangs of national significance.
  • The COPS Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) awards will provide funding to the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate illicit activities related to the distribution of heroin or opioids.
  • The funding is part of a larger effort to enhance public safety in the region, and the lawmakers involved have long pushed for funding of this vital program.
  • The program has seen significant investment in recent years, with $107 million in CHP grants awarded nationwide last week, including an additional $2,937,015 to hire 25 officers in the Camden County and Wildwood Police Departments.

Statistics:

  • The total funding awarded to the East Orange and Essex County is $4,357,166.
  • The East Orange Police Department will receive $1,500,000 in CHP funding to hire 12 new school resource officers.
  • The Essex County Sheriff's Office will receive $750,000 in CHP funding to hire 6 new officers.
  • The Essex County Prosecutor's Office will receive $594,023 in CAGI funding to address gang activity.
  • The New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety will receive $659,916 in CAGI funding and $103,227 in AHTF funding to investigate illicit activities related to the distribution of heroin or opioids.
  • The CHP grants provide 75% funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly-hired, full-time sworn officer positions.
  • Any additional costs above the approved entry-level salaries and fringe benefits, up to $125,000, are the responsibility of the grantee agency.

Sources:

  • [Office of Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr.]
  • [Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program]
  • [New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety]
  • [Essex County Prosecutor's Office]
  • [Essex County Sheriff's Office]
  • [East Orange Police Department]
  • [DOJ announcement on CHP grants]