U.S. Senators Announce Federal Funds To Fight Heroin In Merrimack

MERRIMACK, NH — New Hampshire's two U.S. senators were in Merrimack to kick off National Community Police Week and announce a total of $664,673 in federal funds for the state through the Department of Justice's Community Oriented Police Services (COPS) program. An award of $489,674 to the New Hampshire Department of Safety's Anti-Heroin Task Force will help battle the ongoing opioid crisis in the state.

U.S. Sens Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan held a press conference at the Merrimack Police Department to celebrate the allocation.

"New Hampshire law enforcement have been heroically fighting the substance use disorder epidemic day-in and day-out, saving countless lives and putting dealers behind bars," Shaheen said. "We need to continually make sure that law enforcement in our state have the resources they need and these grants are a very welcome boost. Support for the COPS program and other federal initiatives that support law enforcement will continue to be a top priority for me as a leader of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that determines funding for these grant programs."

An award of $174,999 was also given to Dartmouth College for a COPS Hiring Program performance measurement study. This is the second time that New Hampshire has received funding through the COPS program.

"These federal grants will help Granite State law enforcement do their jobs by directing more funding to combat our state's substance misuse crisis and improving the effectiveness of community policing programs," Hassan said. "I'll keep working with the rest of the New Hampshire delegation to ensure that law enforcement officers have the tools and resources that they need to keep our communities safe."

U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster said of the awards: "Local law enforcement plays a critical role in keeping our communities safe and responding to the opioid epidemic. This funding will help strengthen overall policing strategies and assist law enforcement in their work on the frontlines of the opioid crisis, advancing public safety in New Hampshire. I'm pleased by this development and will continue working to secure funding and resources that will protect Granite State communities."

U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas said: "New Hampshire's law enforcement officers are on the frontlines of the addiction epidemic and it's critical we provide them with the support and resources they need to fight back. With the assistance from the Department of Justice, our local law enforcement officers will be able to strengthen their efforts to keep our communities safe. I promise to continue fighting for additional support alongside the rest of the delegation until we are able to put this epidemic behind us."