The SFY 2025 Police Recruitment and Retention (PRAR) Grant Program, funded by the State of Maryland's Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, is designed to support state and local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to recruit and retain qualified sworn police officers. The program recognizes the essential role of law enforcement officers as first responders and aims to ensure agencies have adequate staffing to fulfill their mission, contributing to a safer Maryland. The grant offers various incentives for recruitment and retention, including bonuses for bilingual proficiency, veterans, recent college graduates, and more. The program also covers advertising support, external recruitment services, health club memberships, uniform allowances, and tuition reimbursement among other benefits. Applications must be submitted online through the Grants Management System by May 10th, 2024, with funding available from July 1st, 2024, to June 30th, 2025. The total funding anticipated under this program is $1,300,000, expecting to make up to 50 awards ranging between $10,000 and $300,000.
