CINNAMINSON N.J. – Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) announced that the Cinnaminson Police Department (PD) was awarded federal funds to hire three new police officers as well as provide officers on staff with the mental health services they need.
“It is a privilege to work closely with our local police departments, listen to their needs, and deliver for the brave men and women in uniform who work hard to keep our communities safe every single day,” said Congressman Kim. “I am proud to have been able to help the Cinnaminson Police Department get these federal funds to support officers with significant mental health and wellness services, as well as grow their staff with additional officers. Keeping our community safe is one of my top priorities, and this grant funding is going to help Cinnaminson PD do just that. I look forward to seeing these initiatives succeed and feel their positive impact throughout our community.”
“Cinnaminson Township is elated to be one of only nine New Jersey municipalities to secure funding through the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Policing Services (COPS) police officer grant program as well as a recipient of the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act grant program,” said Cinnaminson Township Mayor Stephanie Kravil. “These grant awards are symbolic of Cinnaminson Township Committee’s commitment to seeking alternative funding sources to provide key community services and underscores the Committee’s vision of expanding community policing programs and promoting important support services for our public safety personnel. We are extremely grateful for Congressman Kim’s support of our grant application and for continuing to advocate on behalf of Cinnaminson residents.”
The Department of Justice COPS Hiring Program awarded Cinnaminson PD with funding to hire three additional full-time career law enforcement officers to advance public safety through community policing.
Additionally, the Department of Justice Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program awarded Cinnaminson PD with $81,050 to expand access to mental health and wellness services for their law enforcement officers. This includes training for officers selected as peer counselors, training all officers on stress management, officer suicide, and other mental health concerns, and supplying confidential counseling to officers who need it. Cinnaminson PD will also use the grant funds to initiate formal critical incident stress debriefing procedures, wellness visits for all employees, family seminars, and access to a nutritionist and a financial planner to look after the well-being of officers and their families.
Congressman Kim was proud to work with Cinnaminson PD to help support their pursuit of these federal grants. If your organization or nonprofit is applying for a federal grant, our office has a dedicated Grants Director who is available to submit a letter of support on your behalf, connect you with a federal grant liaison to answer application questions, obtain feedback about a previously denied grant to strengthen your next application, or work with congressional liaisons to research potential federal grant opportunities.
As a national security official, Congressman Kim has spent his entire career working to protect our national security and keep Americans safe. He voted and helped deliver$3.9 billion for state and local law enforcement funding in 2022, an increase of more than $500 million over last year’s level. Congressman Kim was proud to cosponsor and help pass the Invest to Protect Act in September 2022, to help small, local police departments hire more officers and access the resources they need to help keep communities safe. He also secured $32,000 for Ocean County’s On POINT $32,000 for Ocean County’s On P.O.I.N.T. (Proactive Outreach In Needs and Treatment) community-based policing program that embeds social workers with participating Ocean County police departments to reduce the need for police intervention in mental health and substance abuse cases. Congressman Kim is a member of the Bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus and cosponsored and voted to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a bill that would make critical reforms to America’s law enforcement system.
More information about Congressman Kim can be found on his website.
Original source found here.
