SNOWE, COLLINS ANNOUNCE $208,635 IN FUNDING FOR MAINE TRIBE LAW ENFORCEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today announced that $208,635 has been awarded to two tribes in Maine for law enforcement by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). $106,222 will go to the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and $102,413 will go to the Penobscot Indian Nation Warden Service.

"The recent grants awarded to the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the Penobscot Indian Nation will greatly aid them with their law enforcement practices. It is vital that community law enforcement professionals and agencies are adequately supported in their mission to keep our communities safe and it is our hope that this funding will allow the two recipient tribes to increase their law enforcement presence," said Senators Snowe and Collins in a joint statement.

These grants were awarded by the DOJ's Office of Community Policing Services (COPS). They have provided $18 million in grants to Native American law enforcement agencies. The COPS Tribal Resources Grant Program is designed to enhance the law enforcement infrastructures and community policing practices in Native American communities, and funds such items as salaries and benefits for new community policing officers, basic equipment, crime fighting technology systems, and training. Since 1995, COPS has provided more than $192.3 million to Native American law enforcement agencies.

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