Congresswoman Brown Highlights Federal Law Enforcement Grant for Maple Heights

Maple Heights, OH – On Thursday, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) presented Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell and members of the Maple Heights Police Department with a check to recognize the recent federal grant awarded to the city. Meeting at the Maple Heights Police Department, Congresswoman Brown also spoke with Mayor Blackwell and the officers about their work to promote public safety in Maple Heights and support a diverse and engaged police force.

In September, Congresswoman Brown and the Department of Justice announced that the City of Maple Heights was awarded a federal grant of $250,000 from DOJ’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

Photos for Media Here

“Congratulations to the City of Maple Heights and the Maple Heights Police Department for the award of a COPS Hiring Program grant. I was honored to join Mayor Blackwell and members of the Maple Heights Police Department to celebrate and learn more about the work they are doing. Improving public safety and preventing crime requires real resources and I am proud to join my fellow Democrats in supporting this grant program. Funding to support hiring and retention helps police departments maintain a trained and experienced workforce to protect and serve the community,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. 

This COPS Hiring Program Award is a competitive grant designed to provide funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.  

The Republican Study Committee, which includes 80% of House Republicans, advocates for defunding the COPS program. (Fact Sheet) COPS Hiring Program grants, like the one awarded to Maple Heights, have supported the hiring or retention of approximately 609 police officers in Ohio since 2016. House Democrats have fought to protect COPS grants from Republican efforts to strip funding from the program.

###