The Montebello Unified School District Police Department is among a number of law enforcement agencies across the country that will receive a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The $125,000 grant will fund the hiring of new officers who are military veterans who have served at least 180 days of active service after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
“The awarding of this grant is very special,” MUSD Chief of Police Linh Dinh said. “Not only we will be able to hire more officers to keep our students and children safe, but military veterans who have kept our country safe will be given the opportunity to serve the public as police officers.”
It is the first time in the 18-year history of the COPS program that MUSD has been awarded one of the highly-sought grants. The grant will provide $111 million in awards to 220 law enforcement agencies nationwide.
“It’s an honor to be able to hire returning veterans and provide them with employment in the career field that they have chosen,” MUSD Board of Education President Hector Chacon said. “We look forward to having them serve our District and know that their addition will make us safer.”
Awards were based on fiscal need and local crime rates, as well each agency’s strategy for dealing with increased violence.
“This new opportunity for veterans is a commitment to support those who are coming home from their tour of duty,” said COPS Office Director Bernard Melekian. “We sincerely hope this effort encourages our veterans to continue to protect and serve the United States through new law enforcement careers.”
Montebello Unified School District is a dynamic learning institution employing top-quality educators. It is the combined work of many that allows the District to continue educating more than 30,000 students every year using the 40 Developmental Assets at all of our school sites. It is through everyone’s efforts – students, parents, teachers, staff and administrators – that we are achieving the District’s number one goal of raising student achievement.