U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) announced today that Howell Township, Monmouth County, has won a $300,000 grant from the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office to hire four new police officers.

    The $300,000 will be used to pay up to 75 percent of each new officer’s salary and benefits over the next three years, with the township paying the remainder. Howell was one of only two municipalities in the state to receive COPS funds during this latest round of grants from the Universal Hiring Program.

    “This significant federal grant will enable Howell Township to bolster its police force and help ensure that this growing community continues to be kept safe and secure,” Smith said. 

    “The federal/local partnership provided through the COPS program helps townships like Howell hire more officers by placing the lions’ share of the salary and benefits on the federal government during the initial years, allowing the local governments to budget over time so they can retain – and ultimately further add to – their forces,” Smith added.

    Howell Township Police Chief Carter welcomed news of the grant, which will allow him to expand his 92-officer police force to 96 officers. 

    Howell is the most recent Fourth District municipality to receive assistance through the COPS program. Just last year, Lakewood received $375,000 to hire five officers, and Burlington City received $100,000 to pay for school security initiatives.