San Antonio Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Tony Gonzales and Henry Cuellar have announced that the City of San Antonio will receive $6,250,000 in funding from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) through the Department of Justice (DOJ). This funding will be utilized under the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) to recruit and hire an additional 50 police officers in San Antonio.

Congressman Tony Gonzales expressed his support for the COPS grant program, stating, "Reducing crime in our communities starts with backing law enforcement with the resources they need. I’ve been a proud supporter of the COPS grant program and am pleased that San Antonio will receive the maximum grant amount this year to hire additional police officers. This new funding is a testament to the strong partnership of the San Antonio delegation at all levels of government, and I look forward to seeing our communities become safer as a result."

Congressman Henry Cuellar highlighted the significance of the COPS Hiring Program in providing resources to local law enforcement agencies. He said, "The COPS Hiring Program provides our local law enforcement agencies with the resources they need to protect our communities, and the COPS LEMHWA Program ensures they have access to mental health care. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to keep both these programs fully funded. We’re seeing the results of that today right here in San Antonio. I stand with the men and women in blue, and I will continue to provide them with the resources they need to do their jobs well."

San Antonio is one of only three cities to be awarded the maximum amount of funding authorized for the COPS Hiring Program. In addition to San Antonio, three other cities in the TX-23 district will also receive CHP funding to hire additional police officers. The City of Castroville will receive $250,000, the City of Pearsall will receive $187,500, and the City of Marfa will receive $121,500.

Furthermore, Uvalde CISD will receive $500,000 in new school security funding under the School Violence Prevention Program.

These funding allocations demonstrate the commitment of the federal government to support law enforcement agencies and enhance public safety in the cities and schools of Texas.

Click this link to access more information: https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/11/reps-gonzales-cuellar-announce-over-6-million-to-hire-50-police-officers-in-san-antonio