State Aid for Police Protection Fund (SAPP)

The State Aid for Police Protection (SAPP) Fund is administered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) in Maryland and was created under Title 4, Subtitle 5 of the Public Safety Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The program serves as a crucial mechanism for providing financial assistance to counties and eligible municipalities within the state to help subsidize the costs associated with local police protection. Recognizing the disparities in fiscal capacity and tax bases across Maryland's jurisdictions, this funding ensures all residents have access to adequate law enforcement services regardless of their locality’s revenue-generating ability. SAPP funding is distributed through a two-pronged formulaic approach. The first, known as Formula Funds, relies on statutory calculations involving a jurisdiction’s population, sworn officer count, crime statistics, and other defined parameters such as minimum and incentive grants. The second component, Enhancement Funds, allocates additional support proportionally based on reported violent crime levels, using the most recent Uniform Crime Report (UCR) published by the Maryland State Police. The goal is to provide supplemental aid to areas facing more significant public safety challenges, particularly those with elevated violent crime rates. Eligibility for the program is limited to Maryland counties and municipalities that meet specific thresholds in terms of expenditures on police protection and employment of qualified law enforcement officers. For example, jurisdictions must either have more than $5,000 in police expenditures and at least one full-time officer or exceed $80,000 in expenditures while employing two part-time officers. All applicants must comply with federal SAM.gov registration requirements and submit application materials through the state’s Grants Management System (GMS). The application process involves a detailed narrative submission that addresses eligibility, funding integration into the jurisdiction’s overall law enforcement strategy, and data such as the number of sworn officers. Required documentation includes Form 2 (Estimated Expenditures for SFY 2026), Form 3 (Sworn Officer Count), and a screenshot of active SAM.gov registration. These documents are due by 11:59 PM on November 26, 2025. Additional post-award requirements include Form 1 (Actual Expenditures for SFY 2025), the CAFR Reconciliation Form, and the audited financial report, all due by January 15, 2026. Funds are distributed quarterly and may cover a range of eligible expenses, including salaries, operational costs, equipment, and law enforcement services received through contracts. However, certain expenses such as jail operations, civil paper serving, and indirect municipal contributions that are not specifically allocated to police protection are not allowable. Uniform crime reporting and police use-of-force data submission are critical compliance requirements tied to the receipt of these funds. Jurisdictions failing to meet reporting deadlines may face partial or full withholding of awards. Technical assistance is available via a scheduled conference call and online training videos. The anticipated award notification is scheduled for June 2026, with the performance period running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The program is recurring on an annual basis, with projected release of the next NOFA expected in September and applications typically opening in October.

Attend the technical assistance call to avoid errors; ensure all forms match fiscal year or risk a funding hold.