Congressman Vela Announces $771,000 in COPS School Violence Prevention Program Funds for South Texas

Press Release

Today, Congressman Filemon Vela (D-TX) announced that the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has awarded three South Texas cities funding through the COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). The Weslaco Police Department has been awarded $330,450, Cuero Independent School District has been awarded $357,271, and Santa Rosa Independent School District has been awarded $83,359.

The COPS SVPP provides up to 75 percent funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds. School districts and law enforcement agencies are awarded funds to improve security at schools and evidence-based school safety programs. The awarded funds may be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence, technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security.

"Providing proper training and resources to ensure the safety of students while they are on campus should be a top priority," said Congressman Vela. "With the recent tragedies that have occurred on school campuses, it is more important than ever to ensure that our schools and law enforcement agencies have the resources and equipment needed to protect our children while they are in the classroom. I am pleased that the Department of Justice has awarded our local school districts and police department with these funds."

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