The purpose of the cops hiring program (CHP) program is to advance the practice of community policing through the hire or rehire of additional career law enforcement officers

The County of Dorchester, Maryland will receive $625,000 under a five-year Project Grant award from the Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. The grant funds will support the COPS Hiring Program, which aims to advance community policing through additional law enforcement staffing. Specifically, Dorchester County will use the funding to hire and rehire career law enforcement officers, increasing its community policing capacity. This aligns with the COPS program's goal of enhancing public safety through community partnerships and problem-solving approaches between law enforcement and local communities. The grant period extends from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2027.

Funding under this award program will be utilized by local law enforcement agencies to hire and rehire career law enforcement officers necessary to increase the jurisdiction's community policing capacity to prevent and disrupt crime and violence.