Washington ( CNN ) -- With hundreds of communities nationwide forced to slash budgets and layoff police officers , the disclosure Thursday of which cities would receive federal grants to fund police positions had been eagerly awaited . Five hit the bureaucratic jackpot . Justice Department officials announced cities in virtually every state would receive anywhere from a single officer to a legal maximum of 50 police officers . In total , the COPS ( Community Oriented Policing Services ) program , administered by the Justice Department , announced it had divided the $ 298 million appropriation to fund 1,388 police positions . The five biggest recipients , each receiving grants for 50 officers , were Houston , Texas ; Tucson , Arizona ; Metro Dade County in Florida ; the Sacramento , California , Sheriff 's Department and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico . Federal funds will go for new police hires in those areas , except for Sacramento , which will use the funds to re-hire officers furloughed , officials said . Officials in charge of the program cited current crime rates and demonstrated financial need as key criteria for the funding . `` There is almost nothing more effective in keeping the public safe than cops on the beat who have the equipment and resources they need , '' said Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli . Perrelli led the parade of officials announcing the grants at a ceremony in Houston . Left unsaid was the long list of cities that received little or no funding . A total of 4,423 police agencies had requested funds for more than 10,408 police officers . Officials acknowledge there remains a continuing hunger for federal assistance among state , county , and local law enforcement agencies . But for the cities that received funds , this was a day for quiet celebration . `` The officers that we will get through this program , through this grant , will be men and women to help us keep the city safe , '' declared Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt .
The COPS ( Community Oriented Policing Services ) program is allocating $ 298 million . The federal program provides grants to fund police positions . More than 4,000 police agencies had requested funds . Recipients were announced Thursday .