{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-announces-federal-grants-help-local-communities-hire-police", "Pingree announces federal grants to help local communities hire police officers", "2016-10-03", "2016", "2016-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today announced that three communities in her District would receive federal grants to hire or rehire police officers.\u00a0\n\u201cLocal police departments do a great job keeping our communities safe, but are finding themselves understaffed because of tight municipal budgets,\u201d said Pingree. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m glad these federal funds will be able to help fill that critical need.\u201d\u00a0\nThe COPS Hiring Program grants come from the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Servicing office.\nIn Southern and Central Maine, the Augusta Police Department is receiving $125,000, the Westbrook Police Department is receiving $125,000, and the Biddeford Police Department is receiving $250,000 (for two officers). \u00a0\nAnother recipient in Maine, the Ellsworth Police Department, will receive $125,000.\u00a0\nA $125,000 grant covers 75 percent of the salary and benefits costs of one entry-level officer for three years. More information on the program is available at: http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=2367.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-announces-federal-grants-help-local-communities-hire-police"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0059380438178778, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}