Brenda Lawrence

10/20/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/20/2021 11:48

U.S. Rep. Lawrence Announces Over $240,000 in Community Policing Development Grant Funding for City of Detroit

Detroit, MI- Today, U.S. Representative Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14) announced a $241,768 Community Policing Development (CPD) grant to the City of Detroit. Awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the funding will specifically go toward Detroit's Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT)-Implementation of CITprogram. The COPS Office is providing pilot grants directly to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to create or expand the use of crisis intervention teams to embed mental and behavioral health services with law enforcement to better respond to individuals in crisis in the community. These pilot projects will fund activities including overtime for sworn personnel, salaries and contracts for mental health professionals, and costs associated with training for personnel. To view the grant announcement, click here.

"As an outspoken leader for mental health services, I'm excited the City of Detroit is receiving this Community Policing Development grant. This funding from the Department of Justice will significantly help how our law enforcement officers respond to Michiganders experiencing mental health crises," said Rep. Lawrence. "Embedding mental and behavioral health services into crisis response keeps our law enforcement officers and the people they serve and protect safe. As the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I remain committed to working with Detroit Police Chief White, our law enforcement officers, and the entire 14th District to improve mental health crisis care and community policing."