Norwalk, Iowa – Representative Democrat 3rd District Congresswoman Cindy Axne, Tuesday, announced the Norwalk Police Department and the Union County Sheriff’s Department will receive $500,000 in grants provided by the Department of Justice through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The Norwalk Police Department, located in Warren County, will receive $375,000 and the Union County Sheriff’s Department will receive $125,000 to hire additional law enforcement officers.

“It is going to be great to add a deputy,” said Union County Sheriff Mark Shepherd. “This funding was sorely needed in Union County. It is going to help us with our investigations, and it will help us put more feet on the streets and increase our visibility in the community. The COPS grant is like the granddaddy of grants, and it is going to be a huge benefit to Union County taxpayers.”

The Department of Justice announced funding awards to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, which allows those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals.