U.S. Senators don't control police grants

The "Saturday Soapbox" column implied that U.S. Senators could direct federal grant money under the COPS Hiring Program to specific communities. That's not the case. While I fully support Elgin and Hanover Park's requests for COPS funding, the recipients of that money were chosen through a competitive grant program formula that factored in a community's crime rate, policing strategy and fiscal situation.

During the Bush Administration, the COPS Program was severely underfunded - from 2005-2009 less than $30 million was given to the program. A lack of federal resources combined with state and local budget cuts have reduced the ability of local law enforcement agencies to put more cops on the beat.

That's why Congress heeded President Obama's call to address this problem. The Recovery Act infused $1 billion into the COPS Program to create jobs and make our communities safer. In just a few months, we will have 4,699 more officers on the beat across the nation.

While Elgin and Hanover Park didn't receive funding in this round of grant awards, they weren't alone. The demand for the new COPS grant funding was overwhelming; of 7,300 communities that applied, just 1,046 received funding. Our suburban communities make a good case for additional police officers and I encourage them to resubmit their applications for the next round of COPS grants.

Congress can and should do more to fight and prevent crime in our communities, including the suburbs. I am committed to strengthening the federal government's relationship with state and local law enforcement and providing funding to help. The Senate Appropriations Committee recently passed a bill to provide $3 billion in local law enforcement assistance for next year. This vital funding, which I strongly support, will bolster anti-crime efforts throughout Illinois and help make our communities safer.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin