WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded $2 million in funds to the Wilmington Police Department and Laurel Police Department to aid in community policing.
The Wilmington News Journal that the police departments received the funds Monday.
Wilmington's $1,875,000 in funding will support the hiring of 15 new officers to address city homicides, while Laurel's $125,000 will go toward the hiring of a new school resource officer. The grant funds 75 percent of the officers' salaries for the first three years, with the respective police department responsible for the remaining 25 percent.
Wilmington Police Sgt. Scott Reed says the new hires will be used to prevent homicides in the city.
Laurel Police Chief Dan Wright says the department previously hasn't had enough money to fund a full-time resource officer.
