WASHINGTON — The East Millinocket and Sanford police departments will benefit from innovative law enforcement grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, according to Maine’s congressional delegation.

The funding, which is being made available through the DOJ’s “Troops to COPS 99” program, will help both communities in hiring recently discharged military veterans to serve as officers.

“The Troops to COPS 99 program complements the Justice Department’s Universal Hiring Program … providing law enforcement agencies with 75 percent of an officer’s three-year salary and benefits up to a maximum of $75,000,” Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins said in a joint statement.

The sentiments were echoed in a separate statement released by Democratic Reps. John Baldacci and Tom Allen. “These grants will enhance law enforcement efforts in Sanford and East Millinocket,” they said.

The Troops to COPS 99 grant provides police departments that hire an eligible veteran using UHP grants to receive additional funds of up to $25,000. This money may be used for training, uniforms and other standard-issue equipment expenses with no local matching funds required for this program.

The grant announcement includes a $10,443 grant for one officer in East Millinocket and $12,108 in funding for one officer in Sanford.