Riverside, Ca- The Riverside Police Department in collaboration with the Riverside Unified School District has been awarded a $274,200 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The COPS Secure Our Schools grant program provides funding to improve security and safety at schools and on school grounds.

The grant award will supplement the purchase of security and surveillance camera systems at the middle and high school campuses within the Riverside Unified School District. In addition, funding will go toward the purchase of a “Reverse 911” notification system and an “Enhanced 911” system. The “Reverse 911” notification system will provide rapid and complete emergency information to parents, faculty, and law enforcement in critical emergency situations. The “Enhanced 911” system will improve the preciseness of emergency locations on the school campuses and decrease the response time of emergency responders. The Riverside Unified School District will be providing the 50% match of $274,200 as required by the grant.

The COPS office awarded 187 grants to law enforcement agencies in 43 states. The Riverside Police Department was one of only nine agencies in the state of California to receive this competitive grant award.