The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has received $8.5 million in federal stimulus money to hire 50 additional officers.
The grant was announced Tuesday by Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Federal money was awarded to law enforcement agencies in all 50 states. Other cities that received grants included Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas and San Francisco.
No agency received funding for more than 50 officers.
The CMPD grant was enough to pay entry-level salary and benefits for the new officers for three years.
Charlotte City Council member and mayoral candidate Anthony Foxx released a statement calling the grant “a victory for all Charlotte citizens.”
Foxx said he made several trips to Washington, meeting with members of the N.C. congressional delegation, to build support for Charlotte’s application, which had requested 150 officers.
In a press statement Tuesday, CMPD said it would continue working with City Council to hire 75 more officers, part of its request to add 125 additional police this fiscal year.
