MELROSE --- Today, Rep. Markey announced a $475,000 grant he helped to secure for the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office from the COPS Program –the Community Oriented Policing Services program – for the acquisition of a new, state-of-the-art Mobile Training Unit.

The Mobile Training Unit will make it easier for police officers across Middlesex Country to receive required firearms training in their own home cities and towns using real ammunition inside of the bullet-proof unit with video simulations.  At the unveiling of the mobile unit, Rep. Markey also announced that the federal government has committed another $100,000 in funds or the maintenance and upkeep of the training center.  

Speakingat the event, surrounded by the Middlesex Country Sheriff James DiPaola, and the mayors of Melrose, Malden, Everett and Medford, Rep. Markey said: “Police officers are our nation’s first line of defense.  They are our hometown heroes, but heroes need help too.  This federal grant will serve every police officer in Middlesex County with the mobile training center.  This will allow officers to train in their own community and give them the vital skills that they need to respond to emergency calls.”

 “This project is the perfect example of governments at all levels working together.  It’s a federal grant awarded to a county sheriff’s office and it will benefit every city and town in Middlesex County,” Rep. Markey also said. “I commend Sheriff DiPaola for his persistence in securing this important grant and I thankall of the officers throughout the country for the work they do everyday for the safety and security of their citizens.”