Several Valley police departments have been awarded nearly $2.4 million to hire law enforcement officers.

The funds come from the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Program, a competitive award program designed to provide funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire additional career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.

Five departments from the Valley received funding from the program.

In Ohio, Boardman Township received $625,000 to hire five officers, and the Salem City Police Department was awarded $125,000 to hire one officer.

In Pennsylvania, the New Castle Police Department was given $1,128,822 to hire six officers, Sharon City Police Department received $375,000 to hire three officers, and the Sharpsville Police Department was awarded $125,000 to bring on one officer.