Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The City of Johnstown, Pennsylvania received a $133,000 project grant from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants program (CFDA 16.710), awarded October 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2027. The grant funds comprehensive training for law enforcement personnel to enhance their capacity to respond effectively to individuals in crisis, with particular emphasis on mental health and substance use disorder emergencies. This training initiative directly supports the establishment and launch of a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model for the Johnstown Police Department.

The deliverables under this award include enhanced crisis response training curriculum and the buildout of the city's Crisis Intervention Team program, designed to address Johnstown's documented challenges with severe poverty, mental health crises, and substance use disorders. By implementing the proven CIT model, the city will improve community responses to mental health and substance use disorder crises while advancing community trust and officer safety through de-escalation techniques and systematic problem-solving approaches aligned with community policing principles. The two-year performance period allows for comprehensive training delivery, team formation, and program implementation across the Johnstown Police Department.