Mrvan Announces COPS Hiring Grant Awards for Local Police Departments

Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Frank J. Mrvan announced two Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring grant awards for Northwest Indiana police departments.

Specifically, the City of Crown Point and the Town of Cedar Lake will each receive $125,000 under the COPS Hiring program.  According to the Department of Justice, the COPS Hiring program provides funding directly to local law enforcement agencies for the hiring and rehiring of entry-level career law enforcement officers to increase policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.

Congressman Frank J. Mrvan stated, “I congratulate the City of Crown Point and the Town of Cedar Lake for their initiative to successfully utilize these federal funds to increase their police force.  All of our law enforcement officers and first responders are essential to the safety and health of our communities, and I am grateful that this federal program will allow our Northwest Indiana police departments to further improve their invaluable services.”

“We’re always finding ways to invest in our public safety and expand our personnel. As a growing city, we’re excited to receive this grant to help that along,” Crown Point Mayor David Uran said. “On behalf of the City of Crown Point, I’d like to thank the Department of Justice and Congressman Frank J. Mrvan and his office for assisting us in the application process.”

“We are grateful the Department of Justice approved our grant application. The $125,000 in funds will help our agency and City hire an additional police officer, bringing our police force to 50 officers — the most in city history,” Crown Point Police Chief Pete Land said.  “Congressman Frank J. Mrvan was generous in his offer to include a letter of support and endorsement to our application; I thank him for his support.”  

Cedar Lake Police Chief William Fisher stated, “The Cedar Lake Police Department is very appreciative that we were chosen for this grant and the opportunity to increase the number of officers in our department.  I want to thank Officer Doug Machalk for the work he did on the grant and the amazing support of the Cedar Lake Board of Safety, the Cedar Lake Town Council, Clerk Treasurer, and with our ever growing community, we are grateful to have support from Congressman Mrvan, whom has been a big supporter for law enforcement.”

For additional information on the COPS Hiring program, click here.

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