$2.2 MILLION GRANT TO COVER HIRING OF SIX NEW POLICE OFFICERS IN NEW LONDON

New London — The city has been awarded a $2.195 million grant to bolster the ranks of the police department by covering the recruitment and hiring of six new officers.

New London is one of six departments in the state to receive funds through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, 2020 COPS Hiring Program grant.

The news was announced in a joint statement from Mayor Michael Passero, the New London City Council, police Chief Peter Reichard, the New London Police Department’s union leadership and members. The COPS Hiring Program is designed to assist in reducing crimes, improving public safety and enhancing the quality of life through community policing efforts by providing hiring support to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide.

In the statement, city officials said their goal is to “recruit and hire diverse candidates for these positions that reflect the impressive diversity in our community.”

“The hiring process will diligently emphasize efforts to recruit veterans, minorities, females, and other under-represented segments of the New London community,” the statement reads.

In addition to the grant-funded positions, the city has funded two positions in the fiscal year 2020-21 budget. The eight new positions will bring the department to 77 officers, including the chief.