WASHINGTON – The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the United States Department of Justice has awarded COPS “Universal Hiring Program” grants totaling more than $230,000 to the towns of Monmouth, Farmington and Milbridge, according to members of Maine’s Congressional delegation.

The town of Monmouth has been awarded $100,245 to assist with the hiring of one additional full-time police officer, and the creation of one part-time position. A grant of $75,000 has been approved for the Farmington Police Department. It will be used to hire one full-time officer. The Milbridge Police Department has been awarded a $55,422 grant to hire one full-time officer.

Created as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the COPS Universal Hiring Program allows law enforcement agencies to put more police officers on the streets. It is part of the Justice Department’s six-year effort to expand the number of officers engaged in community policing by more than 100,000.

“Additional officers will allow our police forces to more easily meet the safety needs of their citizens, and will enable these departments to take a more proactive approach toward crime prevention,” said Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins in a joint statement.

“The COPS program has been instrumental in putting more officers on the streets in Maine and throughout America. This has undoubtedly made our state and nation safer, and benefited countless individuals,” Rep. John Baldacci said in a separate release.