WASHINGTON – The Brewer Police Department will receive $70,770 in funding from the U.S. Department of Justice to hire an additional full-time police officer. The grant is provided under the Community Oriented Policing Services Universal Hiring Program.

“This funding will bolster public safety efforts in Brewer,” said Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins in a joint statement announcing the grant. “Community policing is a proven approach that further roots local officers in their community while increasing local awareness and support of policing efforts. With this additional officer comes the benefit of additional security, and we applaud the continued support of the Department of Justice.”

All officers hired with COPS grants are used in community policing, a strategy that uses partnerships between law enforcement officers and the people they serve to solve crime problems. COPS grants provide funding for 75 percent of the total salary and benefits of each officer hired, up to a maximum of $75,000 per officer over a three-year period. The remainder is paid with state, county or local funds.