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$10.2 Million for Violent Crime, Wisconsin 2023
Crime is on the rise in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, and Cudahy, but the federal government is stepping in to help. On March 31, 2023, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) and the Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance announced that they would be awarding a total of $61 million in grant funding to support the Attorney General’s Operation Relentless Pursuit initiative.
The COPS Office awarded $9,712,096 to the Milwaukee Police Department; $226,061 to the Wauwatosa Police Department; and $301,412 to the Cudahy Police Department. Those awards will fund a total of 32 police officers: 30 for the Milwaukee Police Department and one each for Wauwatosa and Cudahy, respectively.
“While violent crime is down across the country as a whole, some communities remain caught in the grips of violent actors,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “That’s why I launched Operation Relentless Pursuit last December – an initiative to combat violent crime in seven cities where it remains stubbornly high. Today’s grant awards are critical to our mission. We cannot succeed in eradicating crime without resources – the most vital of which are the brave men and women who serve and protect our communities each day. These funds will boost the forces that need them most.”
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, echoed Attorney General Barr’s sentiments. “These awards represent an unprecedented commitment of federal resources to fight violent crime in the Milwaukee area,” said Krueger. “These resources could not be more needed: Milwaukee continues to experience unacceptable rates of homicides and gun violence, often linked to drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession. Through Operation Relentless Pursuit, law enforcement partners are united and focused on apprehending the most violent criminals in Milwaukee.”
The COPS Office, through its COPS Hiring Program (CHP), awarded a total of $51 million to be used to hire 214 sworn law enforcement officers for state and local law enforcement task forces. The recipients of the funding will deploy existing veteran officers to task force duties and use the CHP funding to hire new recruits to backfill those positions, as practical.
The Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance is making $10 million available to support Operation Relentless Pursuit. BJA funds will support efforts such as the hiring of additional prosecutors, overtime expenses for task force members, multi-agency investigations, mobile data terminals and modern technological platforms, and development of strategic plans to address gaps in combating violent crime.
The COPS Office, through its COPS Hiring Program, awarded a total of $51 million to be used to hire 214 sworn law enforcement officers for state and local law enforcement task forces. The recipients of the funding will deploy existing veteran officers to task force duties and use the CHP funding to hire new recruits to backfill those positions, as practical.
For a breakdown of the awards, please click here. For more information on the COPS Hiring Program ORP grants, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/chp/FY20_Relentless_Pursuit_Fact_Sheet.pdf.
Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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