Mayor's statement on COPS funding
Seattle, New York, Houston, Pittsburgh
among those not receiving 2009 stimulus grants

SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today issued this statement regarding the decision not to award stimulus funding in 2009 under the Community Oriented Policing Services program to cities such as Seattle. Seattle’s application remains pending for the 2010 grant process.

"Seattle has seen some of the lowest crime rates in 40 years and with prudent management of our city budget, we have been able to hire 90 new patrol officers in the past five years.  Clearly, those factors worked against our application for the COPS stimulus grant program.  Naturally, we are disappointed with this decision but we also understand that many other cities in our state and across the nation with higher crime rates have been cutting police officers in the face of more severe budget crises. Our focus on public safety remains strong and I hope Seattle will be recognized for its progress on reducing crime and our commitment to putting a record number of officers on the street."

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Office of the Mayor