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 Penobscot Sheriff's Office in Bangor, Maine will use a $250,000 project grant award from the Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office to hire additional law enforcement officers under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants (CFDA 16.710) program. The purpose of the COPS Hiring Program is to advance the practice of community policing through additional career law enforcement officers to increase a jurisdiction's community policing capacity and prevent and disrupt crime and violence. Funding will be used to hire and rehire law enforcement officers from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2027 to enhance the County's ability to develop partnerships and collaboratively solve problems between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

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.