AUTHORIZATION:

Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. 3701 et seq., as amended; Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. 3796dd; National Defense Authorization Act, 10 U.S.C. 1152.

Troops to COPS grants are designed to encourage the hiring of recently separated members of the armed forces to serve as law enforcement officers. Grants are to be used by law enforcement agencies for expenses associated with the hiring of new police recruits.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

Applicant Eligibility: Applicant agencies must have received and hired an eligible veteran under a COPS Universal Hiring Program (UHP) grant on or after October 1,1997. (See 16.710 for more information on UHP.) The selected veteran must have been honorably discharged from active duty with the Department of Defense Armed Forces on or after October 1, 1993. Contact grantor agency for further information regarding eligibility requirements.

Beneficiary Eligibility: Contact grantor agency for further information.

Credentials/Documentation: Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments as may be appropriate.

Pre-application Coordination: None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure: Applications may be obtained from the U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Office.

Award Procedure: Upon approval by the Director, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, award notification letters are sent to grantees. The official grant award must be signed by a duly authorized representative and returned to the designated office within 90 days of the award mail date.

Deadlines: There are no plans for a Troops to COPS program in FY 2000 or FY 2001.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Between 60 to 90 days after receipt of application.

Appeals: See 28 CFR Part 18.

Renewals: Not applicable. Veterans funded under a previous Troops to COPS grant are not eligible for additional funding under the program.

Formula and Matching Requirements: Award amounts are determined following a review of estimated costs provided by the applicant agency. Final award amounts cannot exceed $25,000 per veteran. There is no limit on the number of veterans for which an agency may request funding. Troops to COPS 99 funding is disbursed on a reimbursable basis and payments are approved after approved training has been completed and funded items have been purchased. There is no local match required for Troops to COPS 99.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Troops to COPS 99 grants are for a one-year period. Funding is provided for approved costs incurred during the veteran's first year of employment as a law enforcement officer.

Reports: Quarterly and final financial reports will be required as stipulated in the Grant Owner's Manual distributed by the grantor agency.

Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records: Financial records, supporting documents and all other records pertinent to a grant must be retained for a period of three years.

Account Identification: 15-8594-0-1-754.

Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $5,547,991; FY 02 est $0; and FY 03 est $0.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
$1,500 to $210,000; Average: $21,375.

In fiscal year 2001, more than $5.5 million was awarded to support the hiring expenses of nearly 500 veterans.

Contact grantor agency for guidelines and other literature relative to this program.

Regional or Local Office: None.

Headquarters Office: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 1100 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20530. Telephone: U.S. Department of Justice Response Center, 1-800-421-6770. Direct applications to: Troops to COPS Control Desk, 1100 Vermont Avenue, NW., Seventh Floor, Washington, DC 20530.

Web Site Address:  http://www.usdoj.gov.

During FY 96, Troops to COPS grants funded academy, field, departmental, in-service and other training costs for approximately 500 qualifying veterans. In the most recent program, Troops to COPS 99, grants were provided for uniforms and basic issue equipment in addition to approved training expenses.

Applications are processed in the order of receipt until funds are exhausted. If the demand for funding exceeds the amount available for the program, preference will be given to the requests of those departments that have hired a veteran who meet certain criteria, as outlined in the grant application. The Troops to COPS 99 Application Kit contains a detailed explanation of these preferences.