mh/polic.pr         96-184         Contact: David Weaver, 301-217-6530 or
                                 Cpl. George Ludington, 301-217-4090  

COUNTY POLICE TO RECEIVE
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR 23
NEW OFFICERS; THIRD GRANT
IN TWO YEARS                       For Immediate Release:  May 15, 1996


     President Clinton announced today that Montgomery County, Maryland, will
again benefit from his commitment to putting 100,000 cops on the nation's
streets, giving the County $1.7 million in federal funding to hire 23 new
police officers. Montgomery County was one of 2,511 jurisdictions in the
nation to receive funds from this latest round of grants provided through the
U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services'
Universal Hiring (COPS) program.  Nationwide, an additional 9,000 officers
will be hired under the President's latest plan.   
     "This is terrific news," said Montgomery County Executive Douglas M.
Duncan.  "I applaud President Clinton and U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno for
their leadership in fighting our nation's war against crime. Here in
Montgomery County, we will be using these officers primarily to complete our
redeployment of personnel within the district stations, giving us greater beat
coverage throughout the County."   
     "The public looks to government for safety on the streets, in our
neighborhoods, and places of business and leisure," said County Council
President Gail Ewing.  "These funds will provide much needed police officers
to fight crime and protect our citizens."
     In the first year of the three-year grant, federal funding will cover 75
                                  -more-

COUNTY POLICE RECEIVES $1.7 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING      2-2-2-2

percent of the costs of hiring new officers, with the County providing the
additional 25 percent.  In the remaining two years of the grant, the federal
contribution would be reduced to 65 percent in FY98 and 30 percent in FY99. 
     "We are very excited about receiving the COPS grant award," said Police
Chief Carol Mehrling.  "This award will certainly assist our Department in
completing our community policing goals.  It is my hope to take advantage of
this grant by adding additional applicants to our next recruit class" 
     This is the third time in two years that Montgomery County has received
federal funding for the Department of Police.  In 1994, $1.9 million was
received for 36 police officers as part of President Clinton's first crime
fighting initiative, and in 1995, the department received $438,000 from the
federal COPS MORE program to upgrade the County's Criminal Justice Information
System (CJIS).
     With the new officers, the County's uniform strength will total 963
officers.
                                  # # # 

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