By Carrie Pond
Washington, D.C – U.S. Rep. for Tennessee's 8th District John Tanner says he supports today's passage of COPS Improvement Act, which aims to reduce crime through increased police officer employment. The legislation, which could put nearly a thousand new officers on the ground in Tennessee alone, passed the house today by a vote of 342-78. The legislation allows local police departments to apply for grants to fund the hiring of additional officers. The program was first instituted in 1994.