By By Janet Little Cooper
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby announced that the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) would be awarding $54,000 to the Poarch Creek Tribal Police Department in Atmore.
These funds are part of the $18 million in grants that have been awarded to 80 tribal police departments in 25 states, under (COPS) Tribal Resources Grant Program. The fund is designed to enhance the law enforcement infrastructures and community policing practices in Native American communities.
"The tribe is cautiously optimistic that this is the beginning of many more funds that we will receive from the Department of Justice COPS. We have applied for and are in need of much more money to operate efficiently" said, Sharon Delmar, Poarch Community Relations, "These funds are needed to maintain our existing department and to expand the growing needs we are facing."
Senator Shelby said, "It is important that we continue working to improve our various law enforcement programs and these funds will enable the Poarch Creek Tribal Police to make the necessary adjustments to better ensure the safety of its officers and citizens."