Title
Presentation: Funding through the DOJ FY 2026 Bridging Immigration-related Deficits Experienced Nationwide Program and COPS Office grants
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Issue/Request:
Discussion on existing Federal Grant Funding Opportunities
In light of the current fiscal environment, this presentation is prepared to gather council input on available grant funding opportunities.
Background:
The Lee’s Summit Police Department (LSPD) is a progressive law enforcement agency that embraces advanced technology and evidence-based policing strategies to enhance public safety. In 2025, the department achieved a 14% reduction in overall crime through the dedicated efforts of its personnel and the strategic integration of new technologies that improved situational awareness, response times, and proactive operations.
To build on these gains, LSPD has constructed a Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) designed to serve as a centralized hub for intelligence sharing, crime analysis, and coordinated response. Full staffing of the RTCC is essential to maximize its capabilities, particularly during peak call-for-service hours. The department is currently evaluating staffing models that include civilian operators, sworn personnel, or a hybrid approach. Civilian positions offer an accessible entry point into law enforcement careers, potentially leading to roles as police officers or dispatchers, and have proven easier and faster to fill. Sworn staff brings valuable firsthand operational knowledge of field needs. A blended model is under consideration to optimize both coverage and effectiveness.
Two federal grant opportunities have been identified to support RTCC staffing: the U.S. Department of Justice FY 2026 Bridging Immigration-related Deficits Experienced Nationwide Program, which provides an estimated $3 billion in funding and flexibility for sworn or civilian hires, and grants from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), which has released nearly $700 million in funding to support law enforcement hiring of sworn personnel. These grants represent important opportunities to sustain and expand the department’s technology-driven crime reduction efforts.
The Police Department is seeking input and guidance on each of these financially enhancing opportunities. Each has distinct long-term financial commitments to consider. The COPS Office grant funds 75% of salaries and benefits and requires a 100% funding source after the three-year grant period ends. The Department of Justice Program funds 100% of salaries and benefits and does not have a clause to continue after the granting period ends.
Key Issues:
Securing funding to fully staff the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) will significantly enhance the Lee’s Summit Police Department’s ability to combat organized crime, drug trafficking networks, and violent gangs through real-time intelligence sharing, advanced analytics, and seamless coordination with regional partners. Continuous operation of the RTCC will enable proactive identification and disruption of criminal activity, improved officer safety, faster response to emerging threats, and stronger support for investigations and community-oriented policing initiatives.
A hybrid staffing model combining civilian and sworn personnel would provide comprehensive 24/7 coverage while leveraging the strengths of each: civilians for dedicated analytical and monitoring roles that serve as career pathways into law enforcement and sworn officers for operational insight and field-informed decision support. This approach aligns with the department’s proven success in utilizing technology to achieve measurable crime reductions, including the 14% decline observed in 2025.
Funding through the DOJ FY 2026 Bridging Immigration-related Deficits Experienced Nationwide Program or COPS Office grants would allow LSPD to maintain momentum in evidence-based policing, strengthen regional intelligence efforts against serious crime, and deliver lasting public safety benefits to the residents of Lee’s Summit. These investments represent a strategic opportunity to protect our community while promoting professional development within the public safety workforce.
In considering a federal grant opportunity, it is necessary to consider concurrent requirements. The Bridging Immigration-related Deficits Experienced Nationwide Program provides 100% funding for three years for either sworn or civilian positions, but requires that applicants either already have an established 287(g) partnership with ICE or formally commit to entering into and fully participating in one. This requirement is intended to ensure that funded activities support meaningful collaboration with federal immigration enforcement efforts, including participation in Homeland Security Task Forces. In comparison, Missouri law (RSMo 67.307) prohibits local jurisdictions from adopting sanctuary policies and requires law enforcement agencies to notify officers of their duty to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. However, Missouri law does not mandate participation in the 287(g) program, which remains a voluntary agreement between local agencies and ICE. Missouri’s legal framework is therefore compatible with the BIDEN grant’s 287(g) requirement, as it encourages cooperation while leaving the decision to enter a formal 287(g) partnership to the discretion of the local agency.
The COPS Hiring Program (CHP) is a competitive grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services without similar partnership requirements, but with less attractive financial assistance. It provides funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire full-time sworn career law enforcement officers to advance community policing and enhance crime prevention efforts. Awards typically cover up to 75% of the approved entry-level salary and fringe benefits for each funded position for a period of up to three years, within a five-year period of performance, with a maximum federal contribution of $125,000 per officer (unless a local match waiver is approved). Applicants must demonstrate how the requested positions will support community policing strategies and are generally required to provide a 25% local match, unless waived. The program focuses exclusively on sworn officers and does not fund civilian positions.
Presenter
Travis Forbes, Chief of Police
John Boenker, Deputy Police Chief