Three More Vermont Police Departments Receive $500,000 In "COPS In Schools" Grants Three Vermont police departments can hire at least one additional School Resource Officer each with new COPS In Schools Program grants. "The COPS in Schools Program is a proven success in Vermont," said Sen. Patrick Leahy. "These federal grants pay for officers to teach drug and crime prevention, counsel troubled youths, and safeguard our children." The maximum grant awarded is $125,000 per officer for the three-year grant period. The Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department and the Middlebury Police Department will receive the maximum amount. The Vermont State Police Department will be awarded $250,000, for two School Resource Officers (SRO). Earlier this year, 11 other Vermont cities and counties received COPS In Schools funding. Leahy chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees the Department of Justice and all federal law enforcement programs. The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program was established by Congress as part of the 1994 crime bill. New Grants Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Dept.         $125,000 Middlebury Police Dept.                      $125,000 Vermont State Police Dept.                  $250,000 (2 officers) Earlier This Year Brattleboro Police Dept.                     $125,000 Milton Police Dept.                            $125,000 Richmond Police Dept.                       $121,522 South Burlington Police Dept.             $125,000 Winooski Police Dept.                       $190,522 (2 officers) South Burlington Police Dept.            $111,388 Montpelier Police Dept.                     $124,735 City of Barre                                     $125,000 Rutland County Sheriff’s Dept.          $198,458 (2 officers) Franklin County Sheriff’s Dept.         $125,000 Bennington Cnty Sheriff’s Dept.         $164,066 # # # # #