Federal Grant Award Summary

The County of Bernalillo received a $147,633 Project Grant award dated October 1, 2025, from the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants program (CFDA 16.710). The award supports the "Pathway to Public Safety" initiative, an innovative semester-based after-school program designed to establish a direct recruitment pipeline from Bernalillo County high schools to entry-level law enforcement careers. The program will engage high school juniors and seniors through a two-semester immersive curriculum in partnership with local school districts and community organizations, introducing students to the full spectrum of law enforcement careers including field services, criminal investigations, and specialized units such as SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics), K-9, and mobile crisis response.

The primary objective of the project is to address long-term staffing shortages in law enforcement by cultivating a homegrown, community-connected workforce that reflects the population served. The project will operate through September 30, 2027, leveraging the Sheriff's Office's existing infrastructure and community partnerships to identify, educate, and transition qualified candidates into law enforcement positions. This initiative aligns with the COPS Office's mission to advance public safety through community partnerships and organizational transformation, supporting the agency's capacity-building efforts in recruitment, hiring, and personnel development.