The Department of Justice awarded 596 law enforcement agencies across the nation funding for “hiring to advance community policing.”

Four of those agencies lie within Idaho.

The Nampa Police Department, City of Pocatello, City of Salmon, and Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office, were together awarded nearly 2 million dollars in funding.

The COPS Hiring Program is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing by providing direct funding for the hiring of career law enforcement officers.