Despite being denied for the last five straight years, the city of Bogalusa was awarded a $220,846 grant Monday from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Office (COPS).

The grant was announced by U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

Bogalusa Mayor Wendy Perrette said she was thankful for the dogged determination by those who applied for the grant.

“This grant will alleviate some of the cost of employing two additional police officers,” Perrette said. “Despite being denied this grant for the last five years, our determination and continuing to apply paid off. I’m very proud of the men who wrote this grant. ”

The purpose of the grant is to help build trust, reduce violence and protect schools.

Bogalusa and New Orleans were the only two cities in the Eastern District of Louisiana to receive the grant.

“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” COPS Office Director Ronald L. Davis said. “These grants are not simply about putting more officers on the street, they are about expanding the capacity of law enforcement agencies to engage in community policing.”