U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

Fall 1999, No. 14

Community Oriented Policing Services

On the Beat

www.usdoj.gov/cops/

With First Lady Hillary Rodham

Clinton and several school

children at his side, President

Clinton recently announced the awarding

of $15 million in School Based

Partnerships grants to 226 communities

across the nation.

The School Based Partnerships

program funds innovative partnerships

between law enforcement agencies and

schools or community groups to target

specific problems of school crime and

violence. As President Clinton noted

during the announcement, Schools

ought to be right next to our houses of

worship as sanctuaries in America.

They ought to be places where young

people are completely safe. And know

that they are.

For the second year in a row, the

program was very competitive. COPS

received more than twice the number of

applications it could fund. Applicants

provided proposals on how they would

use the grant money to address a specific

crime problem faced by primary or secondary school students.

Problems being addressed with these

grants include:

 drug dealing on campus;

 bullying and intimidation;

 assaults; and

 vandalism.

School Based Partnerships, as well

as the COPS in Schools and Safe

Schools/Healthy Students program, are

part of the Clinton/Gore Administration's

effort to help local communities combat

school violence. n

With the departure of long-time Director Joe Brann, the

COPS Office has launched a national search for a new director. In

the interim, Deputy Associate Attorney General Mary Lou Leary is

filling in as Acting Director.

Ms. Leary has been with the Department of Justice for 14

years and has been working closely with the COPS Office for the

Mary Lou Leary, Dennis Greenhouse Join COPS

National Search for New Director Underway

past 18 months. Prior to becoming Deputy Associate Attorney

General, Ms. Leary was the U.S. Attorney for the District of

Columbia. She also directed the Weed and Seed initiative in the

District.

Mr. Brann left the COPS Office in June 1999. After spending

4 1⁄2 years with COPS and reaching the milestone of funding the

100,000th community policing officer, Mr. Brann returned to his

family in California.

President Clinton Announces $15 Million in School Based Partnerships Grants 

(cont. on pg 7)
On the Beat 2

COPS Appropriations

The COPS Office is authorized to continue awarding grants through the end of FY

2000. In January, President Clinton proposed

the 21st Century Policing Initiative, which

extends the COPS program through 2005 to

add 30,000 to 50,000 community policing

officers to the beat.

The FY 2000 appropriations for the

COPS Office have been the center of much

debate. In June, the Senate Appropriations

Committee moved to eliminate the COPS program. Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) introduced an amendment to restore $495 million

in funding to the COPS program for FY 2000.

The amendment passed the Senate by voice

vote and was a part of the final Commerce,

Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related

Agencies funding bill passed by the Senate.

During debate, Senator Biden indicated that

$495 million is not sufficient. He plans to

introduce a bill to reauthorize and fully fund

COPS for an additional five years and add

30,000 to 50,000 community policing officers.

The Biden Amendment to the CJS

Appropriations bill includes:

 $180 million for school resource officers;

 $90 million for crime identification 

technology;

 $25 million for bullet proof vests; and

 $25 million for methamphetamine 

programs.

On August 4, the House passed the

Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary,

and Related Agencies funding bill for FY

2000. The bill includes $408 million for

the COPS program.

The House CJS Appropriations

bill proposes for COPS:

 $167.5 million for school safety 

initiatives;

 $130 million for technology and 

communications;

 $25 million for the Police Corps;

 $25 million for bullet proof vests; and

 $35 million for methamphetamine 

programs.

Each chamber of Congress must now

appoint conferees to meet and form one FY

2000 Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary

and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to

send to the President. n

DirectorsColumn

This is my first On the Beat column

since I began serving as Acting

Director of the COPS Office in June.

As many of you know, Joe Brann left the

COPS Office to return to California in semiretirement for some

much-deserved relaxation. Joe was a tireless

advocate for community

policing and local law

enforcement and was a

great asset to this program. The Department

of Justice has undertaken a national search for

a new director.

I am delighted to have this opportunity

to contribute to the success of the COPS program. For the last year and a half, I have

worked as Deputy Associate Attorney

General at the U.S. Department of Justice. In

that capacity, I have worked very closely

with the COPS Office on a wide range of

issues. 

Prior to my appointment at the Justice

Department, I spent 16 years as a prosecutor,

culminating in my service as the U.S.

Attorney for the District of Columbia. In my

years as a prosecutor, I spent thousands of

hours out in the field working with law

enforcement officers to make our neighborhoods safe. I know from personal experience

that we have the best chance of preventing

crime when police and prosecutors partner

with the community.

In the short time I have been at COPS, I

have heard countless stories about communities who are using COPS funds to reduce

crime and improve their quality of life. The

partnership between COPS and America's

police chiefs and sheriffs has been tremendously successful and I will work to continue

that partnership.

A couple of issues back, Joe Brann

promised to keep you updated about the

future of the program and I am using my

first column to keep his promise. 

As many of you know, the COPS program is currently scheduled to cease awarding grants at the end of next year. President

Clinton has proposed continuing the program

until 2005 to add another 30,000 to 50,000

officers to the street. This proposal  the 21st

Century Policing Initiative  also contains

much-needed funding for technology, crime

prevention programs, and community prosecutors.

However, both the Senate and the

House have proposed significant funding

cuts to the program. The first thing everyone

asks me about these cuts is, What will this

mean for my department? Any grants that

have already been awarded will be unaffected by these cuts, but our ability to meet your

needs in the future is in doubt. At this point

we don't know what is going to happen when

the budget process is complete. What we do

know is that President Clinton, Vice

President Gore, and Attorney General Reno

have pledged to fight for the future of the

COPS program. They understand the critical

role COPS funding plays in your efforts to

make the streets of your community safe. 

We should know more about our funding situation for next year in the coming

months. But rest assured that the

Administration is working very hard to see

that COPS continues to provide you with

critical resources, technology, and training.
Fall 1999 3

The Birmingham Police Department has formed a specialized Gang Taskforce to combat the proliferation ofgangs in their community. The Taskforce gathers intelligence on gangs and gang members, tracks gang activity, and

counsels at-risk youth.

The Taskforce compiles information on known gang

members. They record members' gang affiliation and the types

of crimes with which they have been associated. These profiles help the Taskforce understand the nature of each gang

and effectively investigate gang-related crimes.

Taskforce members also

use graffiti as a tool in investigating and tracking criminal

activity. To gangs, graffiti is a

form of communication, often

used to threaten other gangs or

brag about crimes committed.

Officers have learned to interpret the graffiti, which gives

them insight into the activities

of the gangs. They can determine which gangs are the most

active and which are emerging.

When they see specific threats

of violence, they intervene and

try to diffuse the situation.

The Taskforce also works with the schools to prevent gang

membership. Teachers, parents, police, and other community

members work together to identify students who are having

trouble in school and are at risk of becoming gang affiliated. 

Contact: Lieutenant L.D. King

205-933-4113

The Boston Police Department has tackled the problem

of gang violence head on. In their mission to rid Boston

of the problems of gang and youth-related crime, the

police department created Operation Cease Fire to target gang

violence and firearms trafficking throughout the area. Through

Operation Cease Fire, police work closely with the U.S.

Attorney's office, the District Attorney's Office, and the

Federal Drug Enforcement Administration to investigate and

prosecute offenders.

One of the department's initiatives to keep youth offenders

off the streets and away from the influences of other gang

members  Operation Night Light  teams the police with probation officers. Probation officers ride along with police officers at night to make sure that their probationers are not out on

the street. By putting these kids on notice that probation violations will be enforced, probation compliance rates have soared.

Juvenile offenders are staying off the street and complying

with the terms of their probation.

The Boston Police Department uses crime analysis in four

target districts that have experienced high rates of gang-related

crime and violence  including homicides, shots fired, robberies, and aggravated assaults  to direct patrols and identify

crime hotspots. To address the violence in these areas the

Boston Police Department has partnered with Federal, state,

and local law enforcement agencies in a collaborative effort to

curtail gang-related crime. This multi-jurisdictional Youth

Violence Taskforce has taken a comprehensive approach to

combating gangs that has resulted in stronger undercover narcotics operations, more effective surveillance operations, and

better tracking of gangs, guns, and violence.

By working with the community, as well as the gang

members themselves, the Boston Police Department has

sharply reduced gang-related violence. Boston is experiencing

its lowest crime rate since 1971.

This trend is particularly pronounced among the city's youth.

Boston underwent an unprecedented 29 month period (July 1995-

December 1997) in which not one

juvenile was killed with a firearm.

In each year since 1993, the number of juveniles killed by guns has

decreased, with a drop of 60 percent from 1990 to 1998.

Contact: James T. Jordan,

Director of the Office of 

Strategic Planning &

Resource Development

617-343-5096

I

n Salinas, California, the police department has developed

a specialized Violence Suppression Unit as a part of their

Youth Firearms Violence Initiative. The unit has been used

to combat gang violence in Salinas by removing firearms from

the hands of youth and gang members.

The unit uses a computerized system to track crime

reports, gang members, gang territories, and firearms. They

organize meetings for police and community members to

come together and share information on gang activity. Crime

analysis and information from the community help the department direct high visibility patrols to gang hotspots. 

A coalition has been formed with the Probation and Parole

Departments, as well as the courts. By working together, they

ensure that offenders meet the terms of their probation and

parole, including prohibitions against associating with known

gang members and possessing firearms. The officers spend

more time in contact with the offenders and conduct legal

searches of their properties when appropriate.

The Violence Suppression Unit has been tremendously

successful in fighting crime. Since its inception in 1995,

Salinas' crime rate has declined by 25 percent.

Contact: Lieutenant Steve Perryman

831-758-7350

whatWORKS- PREVENTING GANG VIOLENCE
On the Beat 4

Questions & Answers - RETENTION

What is the retention requirement?

Agencies that receive grants to hire additional officers must plan to retain

the Federally funded positions at the conclusion of the grant funding period.

Agencies must retain COPS funded positions for at least one full local budget cycle after the grant expires.

Does the retention requirement apply to civilians and equipment funded under

MORE grants?

Yes. COPS requires agencies to maintain the time-savings generated as a

result of COPS MORE grants. Agencies that accept COPS MORE grants to

hire civilians must retain the civilian positions and maintain the level of

redeployment after the award has ended.

How do agencies determine the minimum number of officers they need to stay in

compliance?

At the end of the grant period, agencies receiving hiring grants must show

that the number of officer positions authorized for funding has increased by

the number of positions funded by the grant. Agencies receiving MORE

grants must demonstrate that the total number of officer hours being redeployed into community policing duties as a result of the grant will be maintained after the grant ends.

How long are agencies obligated to retain COPS funded positions?

Agencies must retain COPS-funded positions for at least one local budget

cycle after the expiration of the grant. 

What if the COPS funded officer leaves the agency? Is this a violation?

COPS grants fund positions, not specific officers or civilians. If a vacancy

occurs, the agency must fill the position in the most timely manner possible.

What is a retention plan?

A retention plan serves as proof that an agency plans to fulfill its obligation

to retain Federally funded positions or level of redeployment. Retention

plans are submitted in writing and must include:

 the intent to retain all COPS funded positions;

 the intended source of funding for the positions after the grant

expires; and

 the signatures of the chief law enforcement executive and the chief

local government official.

What happens if agencies fail to retain COPS funded positions?

Agencies that fail to retain COPS funded positions and cannot demonstrate

mitigating financial circumstances that prevented their retention will face

sanctions. Current COPS funds may be suspended and the agency will jeopardize their eligibility for future COPS and other U.S. Department of Justice

funding. Other legal sanctions, including the reimbursement of expended

grant funds, are also available to the COPS Office.

Q A

Q A

Q A

Q A

Q

A

Q

A

Q

A

Vice President Al Gore Announces

Troops to COPS '99 Grants

On August 4, Vice President AlGore announced the awarding of $5.9 million to 259 communities in 46 states under the Troops

to COPS '99 program. These

grants will fund expenses related

to the hiring of 500 military veterans as law enforcement officers. 

The Troops to COPS program is

an important part of this

Administration's efforts to ensure

that those who serve their country

in the Armed Forces can continue

to help this country after they

leave the service, said Vice

President Al Gore in making the

announcement. That is why I am

pleased to announce today $5.9

million in grants to fund the hiring

of 500 military veterans as law

enforcement officers.

The Troops to COPS program

complements the COPS Universal

Hiring Program. Under Troops to

COPS '99, departments that hire

eligible veterans with a COPS

Universal Hiring Program grant

may receive up to $25,000 to pay

for training, equipment, and other

related hiring expenses. 

For more information on the

Troops to COPS program, please

visit the COPS Internet at

www.usdoj.gov/cops
Fall 1999 5

Possible funding cuts for the COPS program were a major

topic of discussion at a number of the major conferences

this summer. The U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National

Sheriffs' Association, and the National Association of Police

Officers held conferences this summer.

During the U.S. Conference of Mayors 67th Annual

Conference in New Orleans, the mayors passed a resolution calling for the continuation of the COPS program. Both Vice

President Gore and Deputy Attorney General Holder addressed

the conference and called on Congress to fully fund and reauthorize the COPS program. Also, New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial,

the host of the conference, made an impassioned speech to the

public safety committee about the tremendous impact of COPS

funding in his city.

The National Sheriffs' Association used their conference in

Columbus, Ohio, to talk about the need for more funding for the

COPS program. In his last official duty as Director of the COPS

program, Joe Brann addressed the sheriffs and discussed the

importance of the program on both a national and local level.

The sheriffs also passed a resolution supporting the continuation

of the COPS program.

The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO)

held their annual conference in Denver, Colorado, where COPS

Deputy Director Gil Kerlikowske discussed the important role

COPS has played in increasing the police presence on America's

streets. NAPO is a strong supporter of the COPS program and

the President's proposal to add another 30,000 to 50,000 officers

to the street.

COPS is sponsoring the Domestic Violence Training &

Technical Assistance Conference Series. The conferences

will be hosted by the COPS-funded Regional

Community Policing Institutes (RCPIs) in twenty-four cities

nationwide.

The conferences will bring stakeholders together to discuss

innovative approaches to domestic violence prevention. The

conference series advances community policing to combat

domestic violence and promotes community partnerships to

enhance family safety.

Law enforcement, domestic violence advocates, and other

stakeholders will participate in the conferences. Anyone who

wishes to attend may register with the conference contact person. The RCPIs will set aside 70 percent of the participant registrations for COPS grantees. Law enforcement agencies are

encouraged to invite members of the community to bring varying perspectives and experience to conference discussions.

Conferences will be held this fall in Los Angeles,

California; Chicago, Illinois; Springfield, Illinois; Indianapolis,

Indiana; Lansing, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and

Spokane, Washington.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONFERENCE SERIES SPONSORED BY COPS

UPCOMING D OMESTIC V IOLENCE C ONFERENCES

LAW ENFORCEMENT, MAYORS SUPPORT COPS AT SUMMER CONFERENCES

October 3-5, 1999

Los Angeles, California

Contact: Lieutenant Todd Rogers, 562-946-7822

October 6-8, 1999

Spokane, Washington

Contact: Director Jon Walters, 206-439-3740

October 20-22, 1999

Indianapolis, Indiana

Contact: Project Director Conna Miller, 219-456-7015

Oct 27-29, 1999

Lansing, Michigan

Contact: Director Merry Morash, 517-355-2192

November 8-10, 1999 

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Contact: Project Director Linda Miller, 651-917-2255

Dec 9-10, 1999

Chicago, Illinois

Contact: Co-Director James Chip Coldren, 312-355-1755

Dec 9-10, 1999

Springfield, Illinois

Contact: Director David Williams, 217-206-6029

(From left to right)

U.S. Conference of Mayors Executive Director Thomas Cochran, New

Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, and Boise

Mayor Brent Coles at the Mayors 67th Annual Conference in New Orleans.
On the Beat 6

Faced with problems similar to those of other metropolitan areas in the early 1990s, San Antonio experiencedthe highest murder rate in its history in 1993. The San

Antonio Police Department (SAPD) has since committed

resources and manpower to increasing its community policing

initiatives. The SAPD has received over $8 million in COPS

funding to advance community policing and hire or redeploy

100 officers in San Antonio.

San Antonio Fear Free Environment (SAFFE) Unit is the

core of the department's community policing activities. The

creation of this unit in 1994

marked the first time the SAPD

was able to commit officers to

community policing activities on a

full time basis. The unit is composed of nearly 100 officers dedicated to working in conjunction

with the community to address

quality of life issues in San

Antonio's neighborhoods. Each

SAFFE officer is assigned to one

of six area substations. Together,

they serve every neighborhood in

the city. SAFFE officers focus on

community policing within their assigned jurisdiction and are

not responsible for responding to calls for service, a duty that

can often consume over half of an officer's time. Instead,

SAFFE officers establish and maintain day-to-day interaction

with residents and businesses to prevent crime and engage in

hands-on problem solving. They visit schools and participate in

youth programs. They work closely with neighborhood associations, citizen groups, community members, and district patrol

officers to identify and resolve community crime issues.

SAFFE officers serve as a valuable resource for residents in

taking back their neighborhoods from crime and decay.

San Antonio has invested in community policing by continuing to move resources to the six area substations. SAFFE

officers have all the resources they need to fulfill their policing

needs without returning to the main headquarters, which allows

them to spend more time on the beat. Investigative units have

been moved to the substations to provide greater support and

the ability to complete effective property crime investigations.

The proximity of these substations has personalized the department and demonstrated its commitment to reducing crime in

San Antonio.

Since the creation of the SAFFE Unit, there has been a

tremendous increase in citizen involvement with the police

department. The department regularly holds Citizen Police

Academies to educate and involve citizens in crime identification and prevention. The academies

were in such demand that the department expanded the program to

include a Senior Citizen Police

Academy, which addresses the specific needs and concerns of the senior

community. These academies train

nearly two hundred citizens a year to

actively fight crime in their neighborhoods. Residents also participate in

the Cellular on Patrol program. In

conjunction with Southwestern Bell,

the police department has trained citizens on neighborhood patrols to recognize criminal activities and report them to the police department on their cellular phones.

San Antonio's SAFFE Unit has received resounding support from community members. Residents feel safer in their

neighborhoods and offer much of the credit to community

policing and good communication between residents and law

enforcement. Residents have good reason to feel safe  crime

rates have been declining steadily over the past several years.

Since the homicide rate reached its peak in 1993, it has

declined each year and is currently the lowest rate on record.

Likewise, the rate of total violent crimes has dropped each year

since 1993. Overall, the crime rate has fallen 12 percent since

the SAPD used COPS funds to implement the SAFFE program

in 1995.

Community policing has opened the lines of communication between the police and

residents. When problems arise, folks feel like they can call a police officer, one they know by name,

one that works in their neighborhood. Now, that makes a difference.

 Sergeant Daniel Hayes, San Antonio Police Department

COPS in ACTION - San Antonio, Texas

SAFFE officers at San Antonios historic Alamo
Fall 1999 7

COPS in School Program Receives Tremendous Response

More Than 1200 Agencies Apply for Limited Funds

The COPS in Schools grant program has been extremely

popular among local law enforcement. The COPS Office

has been flooded with applications from around the country. Over 1200 agencies have applied for the limited grant funds.

The first round of COPS in Schools grants were announced in

April 1999. The announcement included $68 million in awards for

331 communities to hire 600 School Resource Officers (SROs).

The second and final announcement is expected this fall. Over

1200 agencies are competing for funding for the final awards.

These applications include requests for $280 million to hire 2500

officers. The limited remaining funds will be awarded to 300-400

departments nationwide and are expected to total $70 million.

The COPS in Schools grants provide up to $125,000 over a

three year period for agencies to hire community policing officers

to work in schools. The presence of these officers provides schools

with on-site security and a direct link to local law enforcement

agencies. The officers combine the functions of law enforcement

and education. They perform a variety of duties, from teaching

crime prevention and substance abuse classes to monitoring

troubled students to building respect for law enforcement among

students.

As part of the Clinton/Gore Administration's continued effort

to combat school violence, the Departments of Justice, Education,

and Health and Human Services have teamed up to bring communities the Safe Schools/Health Students initiative. A number of

grants under this initiative will also provide funds for SROs.

In addition to providing funds for hiring, COPS has directed

$5 million to the training of SROs. Recipients of COPS in Schools

and Safe Schools/Healthy Students grants are required to attend a

COPS sponsored School Resource Officer training program within

18 months of receiving the award. The officer who will be

deployed to the school and one school administrator are required

to attend the training. Approximately 12 trainings are being scheduled and will be held throughout the United States. COPS will

cover all expenses associated with the training. 

(cont. from cover)

Also new to the COPS Office is

Principal Deputy Director Dennis

Greenhouse. Mr. Greenhouse comes to

COPS from the Office of National

Drug Control Policy, where he served

as Acting Deputy Director of the

Bureau of State and Local Affairs. He

has an extensive background in public

service, including eight years as the

County Executive for New Castle,

Delaware.

Mr. Greenhouse is replacing former Principal Deputy Director John

Hart, who has served the Clinton

Administration in various roles over

the past seven years. n

Mary Lou Leary settles in as Acting Director of the COPS Office.
October 13-15, 1999 Organization for the Protection of 

Children's Rights (OPCR) 

4th International Conference 

on the Child 

Montreal, Canada

Contact: (514) 593-4303

October 14, 1999 United Against Crime Network 

Small Town and Big City 

Success Stories: What's 

Working in Crime Prevention 

Teleconference

Contact: www.unitedagainst.com

October 15, 1999 Harvard School of Public Health, 

Prevention Institute, Inc. 

Building Bridges: Strengthening 

Schools and Communities Teleconference

Contact: (877) 778-4774 or 

www.walcoff.com/partnerships

October 30 - Nov. 3, 1999 International Association of Chiefs of 

Police (IACP) 

3rd Annual Conference: 

Law Enforcement Education and 

Technology Exposition

Charlotte, North Carolina

Contact: www.theiacp.org

November 3-6, 1999 National Crime Prevention Council

National Conference on Preventing 

Crime

Washington, D.C.

Contact: www.ncpc.org/power99

November 10-14, 1999 Coalition for Juvenile Justice

Who Holds the Keys? The Status of 

Juvenile Confinement

Salt Lake City, Utah

Contact: Thya Cocolin (202) 467-0864 

or JuvJustice@aol.com

November 11-13, 1999 Search Institute 

Healthy Communities, 

Healthy Youth Conference

Denver, Colorado

Contact: www.search-institute.org/

conference/1999.html

November 13-16, Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) 

10th Annual International 

Problem-Oriented Policing Conference

San Diego, California

Contact: (202) 466-7820 or 

www.PoliceForum.org/home/ 

POPConf.html

December 1-4, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of 

America 

National Leadership Forum X

Washington, D.C.

Contact: (800) 542-2322 

or www.cadca.org

December 2-3, Koch Crime Institute

Koch Crime Institute Conference on 

Juvenile Justice

Overland Park, Kansas

Contact: (800) 375-5624 or www.kci.org

For more information or to receive a free copy of this newsletter, write to the COPS Office, Attn: On the Beat, 

1100 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530, or visit our Website at www.usdoj.gov/cops

You can also call the US Department of Justice Response Center at 1.800.421.6770

Within the Washington area, call 202.307.1480

ON THE BEAT

Fall 1999 No. 14

COPS Calendar

FIRST-CLASS MAIL

POSTAGE & FEES PAID

DOJ

Permit No. G-71

U.S. Department of Justice

COPS Office

1100 Vermont Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C 20530

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use $300