Employing Returning Combat Veterans as Police Officers

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP's) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), furthers the Department's mission by assisting state and local jurisdictions in improving the criminal justice system and assisting communities in preventing drug abuse and crime. In fiscal year 2007, the Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program will focus on funding local, regional, and national efforts within six major categories: 1) targeting violent crime; 2) preventing crime and drug abuse; 3) enhancing local law enforcement; 4) enhancing local courts; 5) enhancing local corrections and offender reentry; and 6) facilitating justice information sharing. All categories combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police Inc. (IACP) will implement the Employing Returning Combat Veterans as Policy Officers Project to address all aspects of combat veterans' accepting new positions or returning to prior positions as law enforcement officers. The grantee will determine the most critical needs of this group of returning veterans and provide direct policy guidance both to the veterans themselves and to the police agencies that employ them. IACP has determined that these returning officers may have numerous issues or problems that must be addressed to ensure a successful entry or re-entry into careers in policing.

CA/NCF