Freeport gets nearly $14,000 to cover police overtime

Freeport police received nearly $14,000 in federal grants to fund overtime for full-time officers, according to an announcement yesterday by Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Rep. Kathleen Rice.

The village received $13,695 in funding from the Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. The grant's use is wide reaching to cover crime prevention for state and local communities.

"This federal investment will help support police officers who keep the streets and neighborhoods of Freeport safe and secure," Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. "Protecting our families and communities is a top priority and I will continue to push for funding to help get our police officers the resources needed to carry out their critical work more effectively."

Rice (D-Garden City) said in a statement that the "funding will ensure that the Village of Freeport can meet their overtime staffing needs and continue to prevent crime in the Freeport community."

"This grant will provide additional overtime for our police department to ensure safety and security to all of the residents in Freeport," Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy said in a joint statement.