The Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) has been awarded a three-year, $3,125,000 grant under the 2016 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) by the United States Department of Justice. The CHP grant will allow MDPD to hire 25 new officers to enhance community policing. MDPD must track and report CHP funding separately from other funding sources, and ensure accurate financial and programmatic reporting. All officers hired under this grant must be retained for a minimum of 12 months following the end of the three-year period of funding. Also, these officers would be added to the MDPD budget, over and above the number of locally-funded positions that would have existed in the absence of the grant. “The safety and security of our community and youth is the top priority for Miami-Dade County,” said Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “With the financial assistance of this grant from the U.S. Department of Justice through the CHP, MDPD can now hire 25 new officers to target youth violence and help build community trust.” “Once again we are excited to be awarded a competitive grant to hire 25 police officers; augmenting our FY 2016-17 hiring plan. These additional officers will allow us to continue to strengthen relationships, through our Community Oriented Policing Services program, with the communities we serve.” said MDPD Director, Juan J. Perez.