COPS Hiring Program
🏛 Community Oriented Policing Services
Can you apply?
This grant is for law enforcement agencies seeking to hire additional sworn officers. Eligible applicants include established, operational state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies with primary law enforcement authority. Applicants must comply with federal immigration information-sharing requirements (8 U.S.C. §1373). The grant supports hiring and rehiring career officers to expand community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.
Awards fund salaries and related costs for new officer positions. Agencies implement community policing projects, crime analysis, and organizational changes. Community partnership engagement is expected.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
Program description
The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing and supporting the Administration’s priority of Making America Safe Again by the nation’s state, local, territorial and Tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources.
The purpose of CHP is to fund law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional career sworn law enforcement officers/deputies in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Anticipated outcomes of CHP awards include engagement in planned community partnerships, implementation of projects to analyze and assess problems, implementation of changes to personnel and agency management in support of community policing, and increased capacity of agency to engage in community policing activities.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal grant application form)
- Project narrative describing community policing strategy
- Budget and budget narrative
- Proof of cost-sharing commitment
- Organization documentation showing law enforcement authority
- Staffing plan and organizational structure
Program contact
- 👤 Community Oriented Policing Services
- 📧 askcopsRC@usdoj.gov
- 📞 800-421-6770
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.068 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$8,683,080
-
$6,253,110
-
$6,250,000
-
$6,250,000
-
$6,250,000
-
$6,250,000
-
$6,250,000
-
$6,250,000
-
$5,664,825
-
$4,071,620
Top States by Funding
- TX 15 awards $24.5M
- FL 10 awards $12.8M
- NJ 7 awards $12.3M
- CA 8 awards $11.1M
- OH 4 awards $9.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.068). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $157,200,163 | |
| 2025 est. | $156,668,839 | |
| 2026 est. | $156,668,839 |
FAQ
Who can apply for the COPS Hiring Program?
Established, operational state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies with primary law enforcement authority. Your agency must comply with federal immigration information-sharing rules.
What can grant funds pay for?
Grant funds support hiring and rehiring career sworn law enforcement officers and deputies. Salaries, benefits, and related employment costs are allowable expenses.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes, cost sharing is required. Your agency must contribute a portion of project costs alongside federal funding.
What outcomes does this grant expect?
COPS expects community partnerships, crime analysis projects, organizational changes supporting community policing, and increased community engagement capacity.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is July 23, 2026. This is a fixed deadline with no rolling acceptance window.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your agency's commitment to community policing philosophy and practices, not just hiring numbers.
- Document current staffing levels and explain how new officers will increase community policing capacity specifically.
- Outline planned partnerships with community organizations and explain how they support your hiring goals.
- Detail your crime analysis approach and how you'll measure the impact of additional officers.
- Address the immigration compliance requirement explicitly to avoid eligibility questions during review.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Focusing only on hiring without explaining community policing strategy. Not addressing immigration compliance requirement in application. Underestimating or unclear about cost-sharing commitment.
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