The officers hired with these grants will be stationed full time in Kouts and Griffith schools. Our children should be able to attend school without fear of crime or violence. These funds will help to make Griffith and Kouts schools safer. These grants were awarded under the COPS in Schools program, which funds the hiring of community policing officers to work in primary and secondary schools.
Grants help pay the salaries and benefits of each new officer for three years.
Over the last six years, Congressman Visclosky has helped secure COPS grants to help 20 community police departments in Northwest Indiana hire a total of 226 additional police officers. Congressman Visclosky has made fighting crime one of his highest priorities. Visclosky also organized Operation Tattoo Zap, which has provided free tattoo removal surgeries to 114 former gang members at no additional cost to the taxpayer.