Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly announced that the South Bend Police Department received a $167,844 federal grant to reduce school violence.  The grant is funded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services’ (COPS) Secure Our Schools (SOS) Program.

“I’m pleased that the South Bend Police Department received the COPS SOS grant to reduce school violence within our community,” said Donnelly. “Security at school is necessary for children to receive a quality education.  These funds will help increase security by supporting collaboration between the police, school administrators, teachers, parents, and students to address school safety concerns with solutions tailored to each school.”

“The South Bend Police Department is honored to receive the Secure Our Schools Grant,” said South Bend Police Department Chief Darryl Boykins. “This will help sustain a program that has provided security in our schools as well as mentoring and positive interaction with students and police.  We thank Congressman Donnelly for his friendship and dedicated assistance to the South Bend Police Department and the students of South Bend."

COPS SOS grants provide funding to state or local governments working in partnership with public schools to improve school safety.  COPS SOS grants support community policing partnerships between law enforcement agencies, school administrators, teachers, parents, and students to help protect children and prevent school violence within their communities.  Successful programs are based on a comprehensive safety assessment that identifies the individual needs of each school.

During his time in Congress, Congressman Donnelly has supported funding for the COPS program in order to better ensure that law enforcement officials have the tools and resources they need to carry out their duties both effectively and safely.  Most recently, in February of this year, he voted in favor of an amendment to H.R. 1, The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act for 2011, to preserve funding for the COPS program.

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