FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Mike Raia
Office of the Lt. Governor
Office: 410-260-3888
Cell: 443-336-3032
Gilbert Moore
U.S. Department of Justice
Office: 202-616-1728
Cell: 202-305-5136
Ryan O’Doherty
Office of the Mayor of Baltimore City
Desk: (443) 984-3734
Cell: (410)818-4269
LT. GOVERNOR BROWN, MAYOR RAWLINGS-BLAKE, MARYLAND CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND COPS DIRECTOR MELEKIAN TO HIGHLIGHT LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY
Federal Recovery Act helps Maryland police departments hire 112 officers; State touts another year of reduced crime
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (February 18, 2010) – Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown will join local and federal officials, COPS Director Bernard K. Melekian, and law enforcement leaders tomorrow at a press conference in Baltimore City touting the effectiveness of the Federal Recovery Act, which allowed Maryland to hire 112 police officers through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
One year ago this week, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which included $1 billion for COPS hiring grants. Maryland received eight grants for a total of $23.25 million to hire 112 officers for two years. Baltimore City was awarded a $10 million grant to hire 50 officers.
Last year, Maryland reported the lowest violent crime rate since 1987 and the largest three-year reduction in homicides since the 1970s, including a 46 percent reduction in juvenile homicides over the same period of time. Between 2008 and 2009, Prince George’s County and Baltimore City reduced juvenile homicides by 45 and 53 percent, respectively.
WHO: Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown
Director Bernard K. Melekian, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
U.S. Representative Dutch Ruppersberger
U.S. Representative John Sarbanes
Other members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation
Baltimore Chief of Police Frederick H. Bealefeld, III
Prince George’s County Chief of Police Roberto L. Hylton
WHAT: Press conference touting effectiveness of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in Maryland’s public safety efforts
WHERE: Baltimore Police Department Headquarters, Commissioners Board Room
601 East Fayette Street – 5th Floor
Baltimore, Maryland
WHEN: TOMORROW, Friday, February 19, 2010
2:00 PM
