PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN FRED UPTON

MICHIGAN 6th DISTRICT

For Immediate Release Contact: Sean C. Bonyun

September 8, 2004 (202) 225-3761

Upton Helps Win $1 Million to add 8

Officers to Benton Harbor Police Force

Announcement comes on the heels of $15.9 million HOPE VI grant;

Both grants were top priorities for Governor’s Task Force

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Rep. facilitated January meetings in Washington between local officials and

the Department of Justice for insight into the grant writing process

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has awarded a $1,000,000 grant to the city of Benton Harbor to hire eight additional police officers. In January, Upton welcomed local officials from the Benton Harbor community to Washington to discuss how to best go about the grant application process in securing federal funds to assist Benton Harbor’s public safety efforts. Upton facilitated meetings with officials from the United States Department of Justice to ensure Benton Harbor’s voice was heard loud and clear.

“This is a tremendous victory for the entire Benton Harbor Community,” said Upton. “The superb collaborative efforts of the many community leaders and their countless hours dedicated to writing the grant made this funding possible. I commend Chief Harris for his commitment to the community – he and the entire force have done a terrific job and help is on the way. Benton Harbor will be safer with more cops on the street. The steadfast commitment from local public officials, community leaders and private businesses allowed Benton Harbor to be successful in its efforts.”

“Thanks to Congressman Upton’s efforts Benton Harbor will have stronger neighborhoods and a stronger community at-large,” said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.  “These funds will have a positive impact on the future of Benton Harbor by placing more police officers in the community and allowing those officers to build relationships with city residents.” 

In addition to the HOPE VI grant to improve public housing in Benton Harbor, community policing was also a top priority for Upton and the Citizens for Progressive Change, as highlighted in the first report of the Governor’s Task Force. Specifically, the $1 million will fund eight additional police officers for the Benton Harbor community for the next three years.

“Benton Harbor is one of the priority communities we met with to learn more about the law enforcement needs of the city. Clearly, this funding should provide immediate help. The community will be better off for it,” said Carl Peed, Director of the COPS office, U.S. Department of Justice.

“Chief Sam Harris and City Manager Dwight P. Mitchell carried the voices of the citizens of Benton Harbor to Washington in January, and the Department of Justice heard them loud and clear,” said Upton. “We had a valuable, meaningful discussion with the folks from Justice – and through the application the case was made for more officers in Benton Harbor. Expanding the police force by eight officers provides the department a real shot in the arm.”

Officials throughout Benton Harbor and Berrien County applauded today’s announcement.

“We assembled a quality group of individuals to navigate the application process, and our efforts prevailed,” said Chief Sam Harris. “Eight additional officers will give our department the boost that it needs, putting more officers on the streets to keep this community safe.”

“The partnership built between the city and county to address the safety issues that need to be resolved has paid off,” said Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey. “This is a big first step. Chief Sam Harris has been a sparkplug to make this work.”

“This grant is indicative of the widespread support for the city of Benton Harbor and its police department,” said Benton Harbor Mayor Wilce Cooke. “I was pleased to be part of the process that provides stability for all our residents. It’s a great day.”

Upton concluded, “We all knew that Benton Harbor had only half the police force it needed for a community its size. No area can ever prosper without a sense of security and helping Chief Sam Harris with the proper resources was always my goal.”

Among those attending the January meetings were, Jeff Noel, President, Cornerstone Alliance, Tom Catania, Vice President, Government Relations, Whirlpool Corporation, Chief Sam Harris, Paul Bailey, Berrien County Sheriff, State Sen. Ron Jelinek, State Rep. Charlie LaSata, Martin Golob, President, Southwest Michigan United Way, Dwight P. Mitchell, City Manager for the City of Benton Harbor, and Mark Mitchell, President & Executive Director, CWCC, Dan Beattie from Governor Granholm’s Washington Office, and Margaret Chiara, U.S. District Attorney, West Michigan.

Contact for Chief Sam Harris: 269-927-8414

Contact for Sheriff Paul Bailey: 269-983-7141 ext.7220