Chula Vista Police will receive a $97,500 federal grant to support its program against human trafficking, U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer announced in San Diego.
The department was the only local law enforcement agency in California to receive a Community Orienting Police(COP) Services grant among 28 other agencies throughout the U.S.
“Additional funds to respond to the threat of human trafficking are particularly important now,” said Brewer in a July 7 statement.
“The coronavirus pandemic has young people spending countless hours on their phones, and unfortunately this renders them prey for human traffickers who exploit social media,” added Brewer.
COPS Office Director Phil Keith also announced the other awards to 28 other law enforcement agencies in amounts ranging from $15,090 to $100,000.
Keith said the community policing department’s program “is a critical resource to advance innovative community policing projects across the country.” Funding through this program is available for the first time since 2018.
“These strategic investments from the COPS office pay huge dividends to state and local law enforcement agencies and the communities that they serve,” said Keith.
Applicant agencies were invited to propose pilot projects to be implemented in their agency in which they would offer creative ideas to advance crime fighting, community engagement, problem solving, or organizational changes to community policing.
Besides human trafficking, the grants were offered in programs to boost officer safety and wellness; youth engagement; violent crime; victim-centered approaches; meeting rural law enforcement challenges; school safety; and recruitment, hiring and retention.
The mission statement of Chula Vista Police Department notes on its website that it is “dedicated to providing community policing, with the highest level of professionalism and transparency.” It further states that police employees “will provide fair, courteous, and compassionate service to enhance the quality of life in Chula Vista.”
